Ok... I'm currently preparing for my a-spec and RSB install on Saturday and last night removed the rear seat, C-Pillar covers and rear deck. I have been planning with the a-spec install "while I'm at it" to address the rear deck rattles and dynamat the rear deck for improved isolation and better audio sound, etc. We (mostly) all know that the big culprit on the rear deck rattle is that middle seat belt tensioner. Mine is just horrible... even when I press the thing down and thud the back deck it still rattles lightly inside the tensioner itself.... and with everything removed it's almost comical how much it rattles. Anyway... my thought/idea is this: I never have 3 people in the back seat... and seriously doubt that I ever will. I will have a baby seat in the middle come October, but that does not use the middle seat belt. Has anyone ever considered removing the middle seat belt and buckle completely? I know there are those that will say this is silly, etc... but it will accomplish a couple nice things:

1st: There will be no rattle. Culprit removed
2nd: It will give a cleaner look to the rear seat... lets face it, the middle seat belt looks silly. It is silly really. (IMHO... hold the flames). I recall that my S4 had no middle seat belt and that was from the factory, so it's not a required saftey item AFAIK.

So... what do you all think? The big issue will be that there are two seat belt guides left behind... the one in the rear deck material itself and the one on the top of the seat. Certainly we could come up with ways to cover this up.

Anyway... just a thought... interested in hearing any thoughts and comments on this.

BTW... if you think your car rattles, take out the rear seat and deck and drive around... it sounds like a 1982 Chevy Citation!!!

 

It's a required safety item in the sense that you need to have the same number of seatbelts for the number of passengers in your car. If your car seats 5, make sure you have 5. But you're right in the sense that it's not like brake lights which you HAVE to have, regardless of passengers.

 

Very good point... if one decided to do this, you would defintely want to keep all the hardware and whatnot so you could go back to stock when the car was sold, etc. Could be some liability there...

 

Take it out!! You're right...it looks horrible and if it rattles, I would have already removed it.