De-SRS-ing a Disco 1?

mdcoa

mdcoa

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2013
113
4
Southern Pines, NC
My airbag system seems to be working properly. But I have found myself wondering if driving around with a 23-year-old bomb aimed at my face may not be the best idea. Even in the event of a crash, I reckon my antique airbag is as likely to throw razor sharp pieces of airbag at my neck as it is to save my life.

Yes, I'm sure I could spend $1k per side and put new airbags in the truck, but I'm wondering if I'm not nearing the point at which no airbags would be safer than vintage ones. . . .

I could buy a very svelte non-ABS steering wheel like this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261824103265?clk_rvr_id=1030856523546&rmvSB=true

Not sure what I'd do for the passenger side, since apparently the grab-handles from the non-ABS trucks require full-dash replacement . . .

Is this an answer looking for a question? Should I just leave it well enough alone?
 
D

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
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I don't think getting old will cause metal shards to appear. Don't do anything drastic to the vehicle because of an unrealistic fear. That 23 year old airbag will more than likely operate as designed and save you from some serious injury.
 
R

robertf

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Jan 22, 2006
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Ive wondered the same thing since some of the airbag recalls are from lack of desiccant allowing water to form the projectiles and after 20 years that stuff would be fully saturated

I put a grab handle in mine, had to make a plate to cover the airbag hole but I dont think it looks terrible

I dont think any non airbag wheel had cruise control, so youll be giving that up too. Ive seen reference to a steering wheel pad that is the same form as the airbag and uses the same steering wheel, but Ive never seen a picture of one

and a .5 ohm resistor is the right resistance for the airbag module to think something is still there
 
ERover82

ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
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If you really don't want the airbag in the wheel, take it out and put the cover back on. It'll look stock. If you care about the SRS light, add a resistor, or remove the bulb.

As had been said though, SRS more likely to help than hurt.
 
D

DiscoPhoto

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2012
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Vermont
EricTyrrell said:
If you really don't want the airbag in the wheel, take it out and put the cover back on. It'll look stock. If you care about the SRS light, add a resistor, or remove the bulb.

As had been said though, SRS more likely to help than hurt.
Click to expand...

Where do you add the resistor? I want to get rid of mine...
 
mdcoa

mdcoa

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2013
113
4
Southern Pines, NC
robertf said:
Ive wondered the same thing since some of the airbag recalls are from lack of desiccant allowing water to form the projectiles and after 20 years that stuff would be fully saturated

I put a grab handle in mine, had to make a plate to cover the airbag hole but I dont think it looks terrible

I dont think any non airbag wheel had cruise control, so youll be giving that up too. Ive seen reference to a steering wheel pad that is the same form as the airbag and uses the same steering wheel, but Ive never seen a picture of one

and a .5 ohm resistor is the right resistance for the airbag module to think something is still there
Click to expand...

No cruise control or steering wheel volume control (300tdi and an aftermarket stereo) at the wheel already--all I need is a horn . . .

It was the recalls that got me thinking--if it's apparently easy for even recently made airbags to turn lethal, what does that mean from vehicles from the early days of airbags?

But it does sound like the consensus is to leave it alone, which has the advantage of being the easiest way forward, so I will probably do that.

Thanks much for the thoughts.
 
mdcoa

mdcoa

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2013
113
4
Southern Pines, NC
EricTyrrell said:
If you really don't want the airbag in the wheel, take it out and put the cover back on. It'll look stock. If you care about the SRS light, add a resistor, or remove the bulb.

As had been said though, SRS more likely to help than hurt.
Click to expand...

OK, so I'll go ahead and ask, just in case I change my mind and do decide to do an SRS-ectomy. What cover? I've had the ABS module in the steering wheel out a couple times (cassette replacement and steering wheel alignment), and it never looked like there was a cover/ABS module distinction--looked like one big old piece. Granted, I wasn't trying to tear it down any further and mainly, so I wasn't really looking.

How's one tear into that and get the airbag itself out and leave the cover intact?

And if I do that, will I just be pounding on a smooshy cover every time I want to honk at someone (which is a lot)?
 
p m

p m

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mdcoa said:
It was the recalls that got me thinking--if it's apparently easy for even recently made airbags to turn lethal, what does that mean from vehicles from the early days of airbags?
Click to expand...
Fortunately, AFAIK, Land Rover never used Takata as a supplier.
And the alternative propellant - used in LR airbags and in most vehicles with early airbags - is not known to be unstable.
 
ERover82

ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
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mdcoa said:
OK, so I'll go ahead and ask, just in case I change my mind and do decide to do an SRS-ectomy. What cover? I've had the ABS module in the steering wheel out a couple times (cassette replacement and steering wheel alignment), and it never looked like there was a cover/ABS module distinction--looked like one big old piece. Granted, I wasn't trying to tear it down any further and mainly, so I wasn't really looking.

How's one tear into that and get the airbag itself out and leave the cover intact?

And if I do that, will I just be pounding on a smooshy cover every time I want to honk at someone (which is a lot)?
Click to expand...

You drill out the fasteners that connect the airbag to the cover while imagining it blowing up in your face. Then you simply bolt the cover back on the wheel. Cover will be softer, but not too much.
 
Buddy

Buddy

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2006
2,839
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Central NC
On my current project I removed the passenger one and replace it with a grab handle. The drivers side one I just unhooked and reinstalled. Then I pulled the SRS light bulb so it would not annoy me while driving. But this is also going to be a dedicated off road truck.
 
mdcoa

mdcoa

Well-known member
Jan 25, 2013
113
4
Southern Pines, NC
For those who cannot be bothered to source their own resistor, and enterprising soul has posted this to ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LAND-ROVER-...ash=item33a5aae0d5:g:C34AAOSwBvNToRXm&vxp=mtr

Great point re. the replacement bags out there--they've probably been stored in slightly less harsh conditions than my truck dashboard, but may not be in much better shape, so the wisdom of replacing them (at what I can only assume would be great expense) may be questionable.

Which makes me wonder if we're nearing the years when owners of airbag-equipped vintage vehicles (which sounds bizarre) will begin universally disconnecting these, figuring that an old-school seatbelt-only crash is less risky than having one's vintage airbags attempt to do their job. . .

Anyone know if the passenger dash one can be removed without leaving a gaping hole--i.e. is there a way to do what was described for the steering-side bag?
 
Ed Cheung

Ed Cheung

Well-known member
Aug 23, 2006
1,584
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Hong Kong
But if old airbags are really causing trouble, it would be all over the news and catch peoples attentions. Accidents happens everyday, 10+ years cars are all over the road.
 
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