Alternate routine suggestions for back problems?

Oops, I found it on my second go at the site. Looks like just what I need. Thanks Keith, Patrick. I assume that I'll pretty much have to relearn squatting with the new weight distribution.

Some folks will build a platform to do the hipbelt squats. It may be an idea to have a pole or something to grab onto while learning the balance. One person I knew who did this put a rope up to his ceiling. That way he could grab the rope in case he lost his balance or needed a little extra asssistance to finish a rep.

I installed a rope in my power rack to use with by safety squat bar for the same purpose. Like a safety squat bar, hip belt squats are much more forgivng if you experience any kind of failure while squatting.

My instinct is to move the bar away from my body as I stand up so it doesn't scrape me, and I end up trying to do a little bit of a front raise as I deadlift. This feels somewhat unnatural, and it also holds me back from leaning back a bit to maintain lordosis.

Ew, that should feel unnatural. After DLs I have red marks up my shins and on my thighs (the thigh marks are from my hands). The bar should be really close to you. Wear pants if you're concerned about scraping. Better to have scrapes than to screw up your back or pull your biceps (from trying to control the weight out in front of you).

Hm. I never had to worry much about scraping.

I'm kinda tall though, so maybe my torso is long enough to avoid this?

I don't know. I wouldn't be able to look at your technique and say 'good' or 'bad' (well, unless it's obviously bad). The general advice given (by higher end powerlifters) is that the weight should be as close to the body as possible. Many PLers wear knee high socks and use baby powder on the thighs since actually touching your legs is as close to the body as possible... I've just recently become competent at DLing.