Anyone else driving without airbags?

[MrWideTires]

I'm a fairly small guy so I gotta be pretty close to the steering wheel, plus I've been hurt by an airbag before.. I would had walked out perfectly fine if it wasn't for the airbag.

So I decided I'd get rid of the airbags in my car, covers are still there.. just no airbags, no module, no fuse, nothing. The combined weight I took off the car was huge imo , I always wear my seatbelt, and now if my car ever gets crashed into I don't have to worry about expensive airbags to replace.

Anyone else here has removed the airbags in a obviously airbag-equipped car? Either for a street car or track car.

 

[JTK]

Seems kind of crazy to take a working system out of the car. Don't you have a perpetual SRS/airbag light on now? Plus I'd think selling it would be a nightmare.

OTOH, my wife works in an ER and they get patients in all the time with burns, cuts, bruising, breathing and chest issues from airbag deployment.

I'll still take my chances with airbags.

Joel

 

[Patman]

Airbags are not as expensive to replace as they used to be. When they first came out I understand it was often $5000 or more to replace two airbags but nowadays it's more like $1000 or so. It'll be covered under your insurance anyhow, so why worry about the cost? I'd be more worried about the injuries you could sustain WITHOUT the airbags there to protect you. Sure there are instances where they've harmed (or even killed) some people, but those instances are very rare, the addition of airbags to vehicles has saved more lives.

 

[Stu_Rock]

If you have to sit closer than 10 in from the airbag, then you should install a disable switch. There are shops that know how to perform this service to all vehicles (for some cars they even use parts from the OEM). Often you need to have a diagnosis from a driver rehabilitation specialist to have this modification done to a vehicle.

 

[rslifkin]

It depends on how close you sit to the wheel. If you have to sit too close, IIRC, you can apply to have a dealer install a switch to disable them for safety. Personally, I've been hit by one once, no injury or anything (seat was pretty far back).

 

[steveh]

I got rid of my airbag,I got a divorce!!!

 

[Jakegday]

i used to be with the OP on this, until i had one go off on me. i hit that car going fast as [censored], (after it pulled out in front of me) and i didnt feel a thing! i wasnt wearing a seatbelt either. i got right out of my car and felt fine, and still felt fine the next day.

you're right, they are expensive. thats pretty much a non-issue to me tho since my state requires drivers to carry this thing called "insurance". it pays for things like this.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: MrWideTires

Anyone else here has removed the airbags in a obviously airbag-equipped car?

No

 

[Quest]

Of all the things on a modern automobile (bells-n-whistles, etc.), there are 3 things I would never, ever remove (for whatever reasons):

(a) air-bags or SRS
(b) seatbelts
(c) catalytic convertors.

Q.

 

[volvos_rock]

Yeah, NO

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: MrWideTires
I've been hurt by an airbag before.. I would had walked out perfectly fine if it wasn't for the airbag.
Are you SURE? How can you know that? You might possibly have been injured far worse if the airbag had not deployed. I'd rather take my chances on being injured than being maimed or killed.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

I think getting hit by the airbag would beat getting my skull bashed into the steering wheel. Although I was in a car accident before where the airbag didn't deploy because the sensor apparently didn't hit the object. The impact was enough to bend the frame. Luckily the seatbelt did what it was supposed to and locked up during impact.

 

[90Notch]

Check this video out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YB6sPVJHj0

Pretty violent reaction from airbags. Not sure what generation.

Double edged sword, it can save your life but it looks like it can hurt you pretty darn bad.

I admit I do it but I always have to remind myself to not drape my forearm over the airbag. If it deploys I'm probably going to break my arm or get knocked out. I'll still keep my airbags, rather have a broken arm/nose than be 6ft under. IMO

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: 90Notch
Check this video out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YB6sPVJHj0

Pretty violent reaction from airbags. Not sure what generation.

Double edged sword, it can save your life but it looks like it can hurt you pretty darn bad.



Looks can be deceiving though. I'd rather have my face go into those nice soft "pillows" in a high speed crash instead of the alternative!

And yes, I've been in an accident where the airbags have deployed and they did not hurt me. It takes a few days before you get that awful smell they make out of your mind though!

 

[pottymouth]

Hope you don't carry passengers in that car. If you ever have a collision and a passenger is injured, you'll be in for a whole world of hurt.

 

[MNgopher]

I drive a car without airbags, but that's because it came from the factory that way. My '88 Jeep Cherokee has none of the typical safety features common today. Anti-lock brakes (if it had the ones of that era, it probably would be in the scrapyard). Rear shoulder belts (only has lap belts). No airbags. No traction or stability control. Drives just fine and I enjoy it as a throwback.

Now remove airbags that function perfectly well from a vehicle that has them from the factory? Not for me, thanks. Considering what can happen without them, I'll err on the side of an injury from the safety that could save my life.

 

[cbear]

In my youth I hit a tree at 50mph in my dad's Plymouth Sundance without airbags. With my seatbelt on, I still cracked the windshield with my face. I got lucky with a broken nose and bruised ribs. Years later I wrecked a airbag equipped Dodge Shadow at roughly the same speed. I barely had a bruise from the seatbelt, but I am 5'9".

 

[crinkles]

Sounds like the argument that seatbelts should not be worn because you get thrown free of the vehicle in a crash.

 

[NateDN10]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
Sounds like the argument that seatbelts should not be worn because you get thrown free of the vehicle in a crash.

Or that seatbelts have allegedly trapped people in burning or sinking cars.

Seems like a poor decision to remove standard safety equipment, IMO.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: MrWideTires
and now if my car ever gets crashed into I don't have to worry about expensive airbags to replace.

Yup. You may not have to worry about expensive airbags because you may be dead. Or you may be seriously injured and have to worry about expensive medical bills instead.

By the way, if your car gets "crashed into", then it's the other person's insurance that covers the repairs. That includes new airbags.