I was wondering if a front bumper is aftermarket and thick enough to mount a winch onto does that affect the airbags in any way? I’m wondering if the thickness of the bumper would trigger the airbag in an accident. I don’t know how airbags work on my 2000 Wrangler so if anyone could answer this I would really appreciate it.
Airbags
- Thread starter FirstJeep
- Start date
If I recall correctly, the airbags are triggered by deceleration. If you hit something hard enough, the airbags will still deploy. There are no sensors located in the bumper like modern cars have.
The first metal component to fail is actually the frame itself, not the bumper. On the frame in the front there are holes drilled in the top of the frame rails that are designed to allow the frame to buckle and absorb energy in a collision.
The first metal component to fail is actually the frame itself, not the bumper. On the frame in the front there are holes drilled in the top of the frame rails that are designed to allow the frame to buckle and absorb energy in a collision.
jeepndogs
TJ Enthusiast
Correct, the bags are triggered by deceleration only. The bumper won’t change airbag timing at all on a TJ
First, you could mount a winch without a bumper even being present since the winch mount bolts to the frame under the bumper, not to the bumper itself. The winch mounting plate's mounting bolts only pass through the bumper to threaded inserts inside the frame below the top of the bumper.
There's no airbag sensor in the bumper either. The airbag sensor is located inside the passenger compartment, under the center console at the very front. Just above the transmission hump. That sensor is nothing more than a steel ball inside a tapered slot. Hit something hard enough while driving forward and the steel ball will be forced forward into the tapered slot and activate the airbags. No amount of sideways or up-down movement will set it off.
There's no airbag sensor in the bumper either. The airbag sensor is located inside the passenger compartment, under the center console at the very front. Just above the transmission hump. That sensor is nothing more than a steel ball inside a tapered slot. Hit something hard enough while driving forward and the steel ball will be forced forward into the tapered slot and activate the airbags. No amount of sideways or up-down movement will set it off.
John Scoggins
TJ Enthusiast
If anything a stronger bumper could trigger the air bags sooner (as a lesser impact speed )than the stock bumper. Not prematurely, just sooner since the stronger bumper may not absorbed as much impact as the stock bumper, therefore transmitting more impact to the tub, where the sensor is located.
Or, it could do just the opposite, by transferring more impact to the frame, collapsing it more and lessening the impact to the tub.....
Wonder if anybody has any real word data on this??
Or, it could do just the opposite, by transferring more impact to the frame, collapsing it more and lessening the impact to the tub.....
Wonder if anybody has any real word data on this??
jeepndogs
TJ Enthusiast
The TJ has the first generation SRS system, the easiest way to describe it is a switch. It’s on or it’s off. There really isn’t anything that’s going to change the way it reacts. These systems would actually deploy on plow trucks when they hit frozen snow piles when they first came out, and would almost always deploy on any type of collision over 25-30 MPH.
The newer cars have such advanced sensors in them they will generally only deploy if the processor calculates its a life or death or serious injury type collision. Some go as far as being able to calculate what you weigh and exactly how far you are from the steering wheel and adjust the airbag timing accordingly. I wouldn’t put an aftermarket front bumper on a newer vehicle, it’s guaranteed to change airbag timing. 700 thousandths of a second late can be enough to change the bag from something that saved your life to something that breaks your neck.
The newer cars have such advanced sensors in them they will generally only deploy if the processor calculates its a life or death or serious injury type collision. Some go as far as being able to calculate what you weigh and exactly how far you are from the steering wheel and adjust the airbag timing accordingly. I wouldn’t put an aftermarket front bumper on a newer vehicle, it’s guaranteed to change airbag timing. 700 thousandths of a second late can be enough to change the bag from something that saved your life to something that breaks your neck.
The stock frame has a huge tube to take impacts and tie the frame rails together. It is directly behind the stock bumper which is basically transparent at airbag speed collisions. Take a look at some severe TJ crashes, you'll see the section between the tow hooks on the stock bumper is almost always intact. Aftermarket bumpers don't really change anything.
John Scoggins
TJ Enthusiast
Got to thinking about that so I called up some contacts I have at Southwest Research to see if they have any testing on Jeep Wranglers with non OEM bumpers. They did some on JK's a few years back and it did change the low speed crash pulse but not enough to violate any FMVSS Occupant safety standard in hitting a solid object. The two non oem bumpers did change the offset impact results as far as more visual damage to the underside (suspension, frame) jeep itself.
He said in the real world he does not see the two non oem bumpers making too much of a difference, just like you said, espically since there is a minimum speed at which the airbags will deploy. I would imagine all this would be the same for a TJ.
I don't know anybody anymore at MGA, been 20 years since I was in that industry, to call and see just out of curiosity.
Pedarstaley
New Member
Does anyone know if I need the driver airbag on my 2004 Jeep wrangler? Wanted to get a new steering wheel.
I believe that legally you are required to have one, but that may depend on state law. Most states will require any vehicle originally equipped with one to have one I stalled and operational.
As a matter of practicality I wouldn't remove it anyways. The TJ is an awfully rigid vehicle compared to most cars it's size, so you would greatly increase risk of increased deceleration forces that could mess up your spine or neck.
As a matter of practicality I wouldn't remove it anyways. The TJ is an awfully rigid vehicle compared to most cars it's size, so you would greatly increase risk of increased deceleration forces that could mess up your spine or neck.
Airbags work. I worked in the ER of a Trauma Center. When airbags began to appear we saw a huge uptick in patients coming in a with major lower extremity injury. They did a study and determined that these patients would have been DOA without the airbags and would have never made it to the ER. Seatbelts, airbags and “quality” helmets work people.
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
All I know is, I have lived through, no bicycle helmet as a kid, no car seats as a kid, no seat belts as a kid and an adult, asphalt siding and brake shoes, no air bags, no cell phones, big screen radio's in cars, and a host of other things that will kill you now.
I don't need a nanny state telling me what I need and don't need to keep me safe!!!!!!!!!
I don't need a nanny state telling me what I need and don't need to keep me safe!!!!!!!!!
No it was legs and ankles shattered. The upper body was protected by the seatbelt and airbag. While they don’t help as well with very high impact crashes they make a big difference overall. Seatbelts keep you in the vehicle where you have a safety cage around you. Airbags protect your head and neck. Dale Earnhardt’s death was caused by a separation of his head from his neck. The rest of his injuries were survivable. That’s why nascar has drivers heads restrained now. Working in the ER of a Trauma Center I’ve seen some crazy shit and learned to appreciate how fragile life is.
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
Yeah, but there are a lot of people against simple things like seat belts, vaccinations, and helmets. What do you tell them?
That it's their life and live it to the fullest!!!!!!!
It’s their choice unless the are riding in my vehicle and nothing I could say that would change their minds. This goes for Flat Earthers, contrail conspiracies, smokers, White Supremacists etc. As for me I automatically put my seatbelt on every time I get in a vehicle.
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