cubuff4runner

I was wondering if anybody has heard of airbag issues with heavy duty bumpers. I was thinking that is you have a sturdy bumper and you hit something it will send a stronger jolt through the car. Will the stronger jolt cause airbags to prematurely deploy? If so is there any easy way to unhook them, I don't like airbags anyways.

Jeff

My99

I agree, I plan on getting a TJM bumper soon and would be most unhappy if the airbag deployed because I took down a deer at 60 mph or because of a minor traffic accident.

cubuff4runner

I have done a few searches, but nothing seems to give a definate answer. I am going to be mounting my homemade bar directly to frame. The sensors are on the frame??? From my understanding. Is this right

Jeff

92 Toyota

ARB's are air bag compatable,not too sure about TJM's or what happens if you put on a custom.

shazaam

The last time I went wheeling, I smacked the front bumper on a tree stump hard enough to shift it to one side, and leave a small battle scar on the bumper. No airbag deployed.

Which makes me wonder, if the airbag will ever deploy? But there is one aspect to deployment that didn't happen. I believe the car has to be decelerating quickly, in order for it to trigger some sensor. Not sure on this, but just me theroy. and no I'm not drunk enough to test this out for you.

BruceTS

There are 2 sensors located on the frame rails, inside the engine compartment. I was thinking on comming up with a switch set-up that will allow me to disable one or both airbags. But unfortunately I have no way of testing if it will work. Can't reset blown airbags........

44Runner

My ARB said not to install on a vehicle with air bags. Obviously I did anyway. Not worried about it. It shouldn't make any difference.

zedex

There are 3 deceleration sensors on Tacomas. Probably the same on runners. An arb, tjm is still gonna crush somewhat so i would think there would be very little difference in airbag deployment. If you hit another car then the car will crush more than your truck with a half decent bumper. If you hit a big immovable rock the bag may go off sooner but the deceleration forces will still be the same so they will still save your neck in a big collision.
Im not sure what the exact forces are to deploy the airbag. Toyota wouldnt tell me because they said they didnt know. Nothing unusual there.

92 Toyota

My ARB mounts had crumple zones made in them,so if I hit something going fast it would bend it & I suppose deploy the airbag.The way they are made there is a straight piece of steel tack welded in between the ripples,so I would have to hit something very fast/hard to get it to crumple in.

cubuff4runner

This would be a great idea, but I would be way to woried that I would wire it wrong once or screw something up, and as you said there is no resetting them.

Jeff

cubuff4runner

Thanks Guys,

It seems that there is no 100% definate answer. I think that I am going to leave the bags, and hope that they don't go off when I don't want them to. If there is deceleration sensors I should be OK.

Jeff

BruceTS

The understanding I got was the ARB Sahara bumper was the only version that has a Air bag compatible mounting system.
Sill waiting for mine to arrive, backordered.........

My99

I'm going with the TJM regardless, can't beat the price. I don't mind it going off in a bad accident, or not going off at all. I just would be worried about it causing the bags to go off prematurely. If the switches are in fact deceleration switches though, I don't think it should be much of a problem.

zedex

They are all decelation sensors so no probs with aftermarket bumpers.

bobzemuda

Per TJM on their US website:

1. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AIRBAG COMPATIBILITY?

A bull bar that has passed airbag compliance testing, has been shown to not significantly change the response of the vehicle's airbag system on impact. Not all of the TJM Products bull bars have been tested for airbag compliance. Many of the older bars were developed before testing for airbag compliance was routinely performed.
A bar that is not labeled as airbag compatible has simply not been tested. No data is available to show whether or not an untested bar will affect the vehicle's airbag system on impact.
Call your TJM Distributor if you need to verify the status of airbag testing for a specific bull bar.

So my assumption would be that more than likely you're fine. They just haven't ponied up to wreck a 4Runner.

cubuff4runner

That would be my guess too.

Jeff

Highland Runner

Isn't the airbag sensor behind/below the radio on the frame tunnel? I think you would have to hit something very hard for the airbag to go off. They don't go off as easy as they used to, and cause an injury you might not have gotten in a wreck without an airbag. I t-boned a Suburban in my Tacoma going about 40 MPH, and my bag didn't deploy. I was even pushing my body back with outstreached arms, but no pop. I think you may get a check engine code if the shock sensor is disconected from that box behind the radio. A better way may be to disconnect the bag detonator. This may be the way its done with the key turn off in the newer Tacomas. There is a company that sells key switches/instructions to turn off air bags. This has been discussed here before. I would like to be able to turn off the air bags in my wifes Runner. It seems everyone I know that has been in a wreck has been injured by the air bag. They would have had no injuries at all if no airbags. Of course they weren't driving Toyotas.