Can the dealership deactivate your airbags if you decide to install a front brush guard? I guess you would have to tell your insurance company this though?

I know this seems like a strange question, but the reason I ask is because they may inflate too late in a heavy front crash. I was told, but I am not totally sure is this is true, that some manufacturers have brush guards for purchase in the dealership that has remounted airbag sensors inside the brush guard.

 

I think there's a better chance of another Republican president following Bush than a dealership taking that action.

 

 

in the case of a frontal accident the airbags going off a thousandth of a second later because of a brush guard wont make a diff.. it all happens so fast. you'd be safer to leave the airbag system as is

 

It's illegal to tamper with the safety system. The brush guard will have little effect on when the airbags deploy. It takes a pretty good crash to pop 'em in the first place, having the guard there won't make a difference. The system detects deceleration force on the vehicle, when a certain value is met the bags are blown.

 

To legally disable your airbags you have to have a letter of exception from the NTSB. Sounds crazy but true. Found that out when my buddy tried to have the air bag disabled on an older S10 so he could put a baby seat up front.

It is VERY illegal to disable your airbags. You'll be in violation of Federal and depending on the state, probably state law as well.

Don't do it. As others said, it's a very minimal difference if any in the timing.

 

An airbag deploys in about 20-30 m/s. There is no "too late."

 

I think the only time I would be concerned is if you you used it for off-road plowing. But then again, if you did that... who would even know you disconnected them... as long as you don't try registering the vehicle for on-road use.

Like for example, a friend of mine uses a '97 F150 to push hay bails... took the front bumper off completely and welded some steel bars along with a thick piece of steel as a flat piece for ramming.

Hasn't died yet... and yes, it's only on his farm... it's definatly not road legal by any means... (No cats, no muffler, no seatbelts, busted tail lights, ripped the airbags out, and the mechanical odometer stopped working at 310,XXX)

 

the vehical uses multiple sensors to deploy the airbags not just ones in the front bumper. your air bag wont deploy slower at all. you have a better chance of getting a faulty airbag then hitting the steering wheel before the airbag is deployed.