Airbag Removal...

[madaaron]

Got 2 bags in the front, I want em both out eventually. Can I disable the system completely so I KNOW they wont go off?
I would like to get a new steering wheel but I want something custom with no bag in it.

I really wouldn't want it goin off in my face anyways, I'm a big dude and I cannot sit far enough back from the wheel without being uncomfortable and it would probably crack my sternum or my neck lol

[S/C Z71]

Dumb idea.

[addiction2bass]

dito.... that im scared of the air bag doesnt cut it IMO.
its there for a very important reason! id rather eat a air bag than eat a aftermarket HARD STEERING WHEEL!!!!!!

plus check your state laws.....

[madaaron]

you really don't understand that it is more dangerous for the bag to deploy on me than it would be with just a wheel.
Your supposed to be at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, at most I can get 4-5 without freakin layin down...

[billywilly92]

Why are you so close to it?

[Abes]

There is a fuse in the fuse block for the Air bag you could remove, I would disconect the battery also just for safety though.

[dlstewart01]

Its none of my business, but, there could be implications with disabling a federally mandated safety device, not to mention if you have a wreck and your Insurance Co finds out you disabled the air-bag they will cancel your insurance, not to mention if you are laid up in the hospital in a vegetable state we the tax payers will have to pay for you.

Like I said it ain't none of my business.

[addiction2bass]

you can remove it but i still say its really stupid!

show me a picture of you siting in the burb like you would when driving........

not to be a d*** or anything but unless your a short fat guy i dont see you needing to sit that close. im about 6ft about 180 all gut fat ;) and im no where near the bag comfortably. if i sit any closer i cannt swing my knees out from under the steering column.


but if you really want to take a risk with no air bag and also posibly get tickets from the police or fail inspection if applicable in your area....
to remove the bag simply disconnect the battery and use a vise grip and clamp the positive cable to the negative cable overnight and that should suck every last drop of power from the trucks electrical system. then start to remove the air bag.....
turn the wheel 90degrees and remove the 2 philips screws from the back of the steering wheel, now after that im unsure. it probably has some allen or star sockets to hold the bag on or something.... just start removing every screw you can find. and if you dont have the right tool... go buy the proper socket! if you fake it with the wrong tools you could strip them and never get them out!
just be sure to KEEP ALL THE PARTS AND DO NOT!!!!!!!!! I REPEAT DO NOT!!!!!!!!!! THROW THE BAG OR ANY SCREWS OR WIRING AWAY... AND DO NOT CUT ANY WIRES!!!!! unplug everything and box it all up and keep it!
if you ever sell the truck or sell it to family member you should reinstall the air bag system!

i cannt stand buying a car that doesnt have a airbag and when i get a air bag for it i find out the idiot cut the wiring....


but i still dont condone removing the airbag... it helps alot more people than it hurts but you dont hear about all the people it saves... you only hear about the bad things.

[madaaron]

Im all for airbags, trust me I am. IMO I would rather keep it in and probably will just because it sounds like more than I want to get into and I dont want to risk opening the wheel and gettin blasted in the face lol

I really dont have a pic of my driving it but I am 6'6" 365lbs. Head about hits the roof and to fit comfortably I have to tilt the seat back 2 clicks to be as far back as I can from the wheel without laying down. Still not far enough for my liking but I deal with it.
I will measure it up tomorrow in my normal driving position to be sure the true distance. I have also contemplated having the second seat moved back 4-5 inches, since I do not have the 3rd seat in the suburban, then move the driver and passenger seats back as well for more leg room.

My mind wonders about things that are kinda stupid at times...

[S/C Z71]

Why are you so close to it?

Because he is obese.

[madaaron]

it is true, I am fat. I am not gonna cry about it lol

[d_johnsen]

not to be off topic, but isnt it funny when ppl like billywilly ask a question like that, and the answer is right in the original posters question...wake up...smell the coffee man jeesh

[addiction2bass]

well might i ask why remove BOTH air bags? i would at least keep the passenger air bag installed and wired up.

[madaaron]

I have decided against removing the bags, Too much work to remove them when I should spend my time on more important things.
I figured if I disabled the driver bag the passenger would be disabled too, I didn't know if it could be left alone or not, that's the only reason I wanted to remove the passenger bag.

[GreaseDog]

could always "accidentally" unplug them. no failed safety inspection, no possible tickets, and if they dont deploy in an accident and your insurance company says anything about it, and looks into it finding them unplugged, claim stupidity. i'll take my chances eating a steering wheel over an airbag. how many people are hurt by airbags vs. steering wheels. i know several people who suffered severe facial injuries (broken noses, cheek bones, and a broken jaw), and only one with injuries from a steering wheel. the guy with the steering wheel literally bit it, and pulled his teeth out of it after the accident, put them in his pocket, and had all of them sucessfully reinstalled afterwards.

[Cheyenne'88]

I'm glad you decided against the removal.
I was in a head-on this summer, drunk driver in whatever the big Toyota SUV is, swerved across the line and hit me in the Ford Windstar (minivan) I drive for work. (Taxi) I was stopped for a left turn, they were traveling about 60. I was already at the steering wheel (kissing it goodbye) when the airbag went off. Seatbelt did very little to slow me down. I'm 6' and 220 (at the time... I gained 40 since the accident, freaked me out that much) I came out flattened and broken, but nothing compared to what would have been.
Keep the airbag and move the seat. I'm trying to find a retro-fit airbag for the truck now.

[madaaron]

We dont have to worry about inspections here in Nebraska

Wouldn't unplugging them just set off the airbag light on the dash?

[mikeyman]

unplugging them, removing fuses, anything of that nature will set a light off and disable both sides no matter what. you have no choices in this situation