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[mandula]

Just installed Isofix anchors to my estate. Found good ones from ebay just about 50 euros for two + post. Job took about 2 hours with all the thinking process and actual job.

Here is a link to finnish Opel forum, you can find pics detailed the process. Also explained it, but in finnish, maybe I can translate it later here with pics.

Easy job and works better than from factory, I believe 

https://www.opelclubfinland.fi/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=254105#p2415054

[Andy B]

That looks to be a good mod .... I didn't know that  kind of modification existed. Kids seats fit far better with ISOfix than just with a seat belt.

[mandula]

Yep, that was the reason for this mod. Way better selection of seats and more secure.

[Doctor Gollum]

Agreed with the principle of the idea, but question the integrity of the attachment points following bending in a vice...

Not sure that I would be comfortable with my kids attached to them in a decent smash

[Nick W]

Agreed with the principle of the idea, but question the integrity of the attachment points following bending in a vice...

Not sure that I would be comfortable with my kids attached to them in a decent smash

It's only a small bend in a  mild steel bracket. That's bolted to a sheetmetal structure.

[Doctor Gollum]

The loops look to be welded to the bracket, and it's the loops that have to be bent in relation to the bracket*

*AIUI looking at it on the phone.

[Andy H]

I did the research and bought one of those Ford isofix brackets when my 4 year old was born with the intention to see if would fit in my 2003 Elite saloon but never got round to it.

The isofix mounts fix the child seat much more securely than a belt - having used both types a lot over the past 4.5 years I am still unsure which is 'better'. The isofix seats we have won't stop beeping until safely clipped in whereas the belted ones can be insecurely fitted without it being obvious. None are actually easy to fit but the isofix ones do have bases that stay in the car which allowed is to quickly remove the baby seat and carry it into the house with sleeping baby in the seat.

In a crash the rigid fixings will accelerate/decelerate the child seat as quickly as the bodyshell but the belted seat will benefit from some cushioning from the belt and seat cushions

[Andy H]

Agreed with the principle of the idea, but question the integrity of the attachment points following bending in a vice...

Not sure that I would be comfortable with my kids attached to them in a decent smash

It's only a small bend in a  mild steel bracket. That's bolted to a sheetmetal structure.

I can't really work out what was being bent I wouldn't be happy bending the hoops due to the risk of weakening them.

If the hoops were too high/low then it would have been better to drill the holes in the body in the right place first time.

If the gauge of the sheet metal is a concern then spreader plates (ie big washers) should be used to spread the load.

[mandula]

Bending the loops was necessary as the fixing surface on car was tilted so loops would be pointing too much upwards when bolded in.

Bending angle is so small that I dont see risk of weakening the loops.

[Andy B]

....

Not sure that I would be comfortable with my kids attached to them in a decent smash

In the next stage seat that my 3yr old grand daughter uses, the Isofix fittings just hold the seat in place and she's restrained by the car's seat belt. But I understand where you're coming from with some of the seats for younger kids where they're strapped to a seat that is then held in place with Isofix loops.

[mandula]

Just calculated that loops would hold about 1600 kg's if weakened by half from original tensile strength.

Hitting 200 km/h to wall would produce about 266 g-force causing 33 kg of child+seat weight about 900 kg's.

So probably some other things broke before those bended loops.

[biggriffin]

When I we're a lad, sat in the back of dads van, we relied on gravity.

[mandula]

Just calculated that loops would hold about 1600 kg's if weakened by half from original tensile strength.

Hitting 200 km/h to wall would produce about 266 g-force causing 33 kg of child+seat weight about 8800 kg's.

So probably some other things broke before those bended loops in "normal" crashes. Even unbended loops would not hold against that 200 kmh crash. But usually there are also car belds helping when child is past 3 years old.

Some thinkingmistakes edited.

[Nick W]

Just calculated that loops would hold about 1600 kg's if weakened by half from original tensile strength.

Hitting 200 km/h to wall would produce about 266 g-force causing 33 kg of child+seat weight about 900 kg's.

So probably some other things broke before those bended loops.

you can't use actual numbers on an internet forum

[mandula]

Just calculated that loops would hold about 1600 kg's if weakened by half from original tensile strength.

Hitting 200 km/h to wall would produce about 266 g-force causing 33 kg of child+seat weight about 900 kg's.

So probably some other things broke before those bended loops.

you can't use actual numbers on an internet forum

Sorry 

But anyway, bending those loops slightly wont affect safety or strength unless you are going to drive rally on a mountain with your childrens in car.