permanently disabling airbags

[BlueRock Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BlueRock]

Having installed my winch, I've been debating whether or not to disable the airbags.
As the front V-shaped compression 'impactors' have been removed, and the winch mount effectively acts as a solid steel bumper, the airbag system can presumably be set off at a much lower speed.
That could be bad news in off-road situations or low speed collisions.

The front impact sensors (I assume they are accelerometers) are attached to the body, just below the two battery trays.
So, presumably there will be some 'give' via the body mounts, in the event of a collision.
But, I don't know how easily the system might be set off.

So, I'm thinking it might be safer just to disable the system.

Any comments and thoughts? Has anyone else done this?

I'm sure there are legal issues to consider too, but frankly my own safety takes precedence.

BlueRock

[OFFDAZE Banned Find all posts View Profile Close OFFDAZE]

air bag

They shouldn't activate that easy they should need all the paramenters to actvate speed/braking/vehicle direction and position........also needed for rego and insurance purposes..not forgetting your own safety

Having installed my winch, I've been debating whether or not to disable the airbags.
As the front V-shaped compression 'impactors' have been removed, and the winch mount effectively acts as a solid steel bumper, the airbag system can presumably be set off at a much lower speed.
That could be bad news in off-road situations or low speed collisions.

The front impact sensors (I assume they are accelerometers) are attached to the body, just below the two battery trays.
So, presumably there will be some 'give' via the body mounts, in the event of a collision.
But, I don't know how easily the system might be set off.

So, I'm thinking it might be safer just to disable the system.

Any comments and thoughts? Has anyone else done this?

I'm sure there are legal issues to consider too, but frankly my own safety takes precedence.

BlueRock

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Leave them. Deployment is dependant upon a variety of factors and your mods wont change them.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

If your using an genuine Toyota or ARB or other approved mounting plate
it will have no affect on the airbag operation. The crush cans etc form part of the
crumple rate system and they are placed between the winch plate and the chassis.

Also as pointed out, disabling the airbags, unless done by the engine management system,
some vehilces auto disable the airbags under certain conditions, ie crawling in low range
to avoid unwanted deployment when travelling very slowly over rough terrain will render the vehicle
unroad worthy. As Toyota warn that airbags could deploy if vehicle drops down a steep step it would
seem Toyota don't disable them in the Prado under these conditions.

Cheers
LeighW

[BlueRock Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BlueRock]

If your using an genuine Toyota or ARB or other approved mounting plate
it will have no affect on the airbag operation. The crush cans etc form part of the
crumple rate system and they are placed between the winch plate and the chassis.

That's the thing. The winch mount was never designed for airbags. There are no crush cans or crumple zones. It's thick, solid steel: http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-mount-install

So, it would transfer much of the impact / shock load directly to the chassis. I don't think the mounting bolts would even have a chance to shear. That's why I'm concerned, for example, if hitting a rock might set off the airbag.

Maybe, it would make more sense to install a disable switch, which I could flip when off-roading?

BlueRock

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Hi Bluerock

The sensors dont require crumple zones or crush cans. They work off deceleration mainly. I think you are confusing a number of vehicle safety issues. My last job i was an accident investigator. On most of our aus vehicles they wont go off until you strike something at greater velocity than 38km/h into a stationary object. They may have changed since but even 30k's into a stationary object will see you having more to worry about than the airbags.

It is surprising how some BIG collisions dont result in airbags going off.

cheers

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Obviously it would be better if the mount was designed to work with crush
cans etc, though the new bullbar mounts for the genuine Toyota bar no
longer have crush cans from memeory, they have been replaced by large
folded metal supports which would still absorb some energy in flattening.

The airbag sensors, as written above work on deceleration, they are not attached to
chassis from memory but to the body work. All your mount will do is change the crumple
rate, ie the vehicle won't absorb and disipate energy as well as it would do otherwise
and may cause more sever damage to the chassis than would normally occur.

The airbags will still deploy as they simple measure how quickly the car is stopping, at
worst you mod may change the timing a bit as would say a tow bar coming through the
front of the car and hitting the sensor in a tail end.

I would not disable the airbags as you are removing a safety feature, also depending how
you do it, it may cause a error code that will need to be reset with a odb reader resetter.

Cheers

LeighW

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

On the topic of disabling them, what about the legalities in say Aus?
For example, 96 Prado optioned with airbags, seeing as they were never standard across the range then?

Not sure if the same applies to the UK.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

On the topic of disabling them, what about the legalities in say Aus?
For example, 96 Prado optioned with airbags, seeing as they were never standard across the range then?

Not sure if the same applies to the UK.

If the vehicle came from the factory with them then it is illegal to disable them.

Cheers
LeighW

[prado887.1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado887.1]

Hi Bluerock

The sensors dont require crumple zones or crush cans. They work off deceleration mainly. I think you are confusing a number of vehicle safety issues. My last job i was an accident investigator. On most of our aus vehicles they wont go off until you strike something at greater velocity than 38km/h into a stationary object. They may have changed since but even 30k's into a stationary object will see you having more to worry about than the airbags.

It is surprising how some BIG collisions dont result in airbags going off.

cheers

I agree with TT there have to be more factors than just impact I have an ARB steel bar and have nudged trees
and year before last hit a cow on the road = Dead cow no airbag deployment, no damage to bar but damage to guards and flares. On a more recent note they also did not go off when getting air off a crest and bottoming out on a recent april trip to Coolah tops (Mat can attest to this )

although more modern vehicles in comps disable or unplug sensors before their run, probably not wise on a road vehicle.
Ryan

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

On the topic of disabling them, what about the legalities in say Aus?
For example, 96 Prado optioned with airbags, seeing as they were never standard across the range then?

Not sure if the same applies to the UK.

If the lower spec vehicles did not come with airbags, then you can disable the airbags on the upper spec models, however you need to get a sticker (usually fluro orange) placed onto the instument cluster behind the steering wheel. But the thing is, you are not allowed to put a non airbag compatable bull bar onto a vehicle that was originally fitted with airbags.

[BlueRock Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BlueRock]

Thanks for the very helpful advice!!
I'll keep them enabled.

BlueRock