Rock Sliders and Side Airbags

[Boggs]

I have read a few comments in ads etc. that suggest that rock sliders will prevent side air bags from working.. seems logical.. but I'm certainly no expert. Any ideas?

[Tombie]

I have read a few comments in ads etc. that suggest that rock sliders will prevent side air bags from working.. seems logical.. but I'm certainly no expert. Any ideas?

How does it 'seem logical'?

Side takes a hit, crash pulse is measured and bags go off..

At its worst strengthening the side can make them fire slightly quicker...

How this then comes into play is that the bag may inflate before it was meant to, and may be slightly early.

for a frontal bag I would be very concerned, for side bags not so much - they dont go off in a frontal impact...

Sliders are likely to help keep your legs and pelvis intact!

[4evershiva]

but you get the option for side step offered by manufacturers...assuming the manufacturer will not provide with that extra option if it is going to hinder the operation of a side air bag....and there doesn't seem to be huge difference in the placement of a side step vs a rock slider...so I think it is a myth that the rock sliders will affect side airbag deployment...

[Boggs]

Like I said, I'm no expert! I thought air bags worked on a mechanical trigger mechanism.. so adding more rigidity would prevent them triggering?...
Tombie's point about keeping legs intact is a good one.
I am the proud owner of two good legs as a result of having side bars on an old Toyo FJ40 which was invaded by some dork in a GT falcon which managed to turn my drivers door into a stable door. I ended up with a couple of stiches instead of the full Long John Silver kit.

[scarpinatore]

Sliders are likely to help keep your legs and pelvis intact!

That's a good point. I always wondered how much a heavy duty front bumper improves truck's performance in a frontal crash.

[LandyAndy]

Like I said, I'm no expert! I thought air bags worked on a mechanical trigger mechanism.. so adding more rigidity would prevent them triggering?...
Tombie's point about keeping legs intact is a good one.
I am the proud owner of two good legs as a result of having side bars on an old Toyo FJ40 which was invaded by some dork in a GT falcon which managed to turn my drivers door into a stable door. I ended up with a couple of stiches instead of the full Long John Silver kit.

I doubt they would make any difference.SRS relys on a accelerometer(or is that de-accelerometer???) in the centre of the vehicle to deploy airbags.Sure the sill may be slightly stronger than standard on impact,the bags will still deploy,timing may be out by milliseconds.
Andrew

[AnD3rew]

An article in Unsealed 4x4 recently stated that sliders which did not meet ADRs for vehicles with side airbags were illegal.

[clubagreenie]

Depends on the triggering mechanism, on the D2, and it follows logic cue to the following that subsequent models would follow suit. The D2 triggers via a decelerometer, which is also used as part of the ACE system. So there's no physical trigger/switch which can be impacted off road and activate.

As stated it may save you by turning it back into more box chassis like protection and transferring crush zones to the A & C pillars. I had a side impact in my D2 and all I needed to do was use a bar to remove the 5mm twist in the sill out (sliders are integral to the sill). It may also cause premature trigering. Assuming the decelerometer activation method (which may not be the case in side airbags as the vehicle is never accelerating sideways (unless I'm driving)) someone is most likely to be hitting you in which case there is no change in their protection as it relies on their vehicle systems, and your activation relies on your vehicle and that depend on the activation method.