Aftermarket steering wheels and Safety

[StreetNewb]

Alright so I'm almost done with exterior parts and performance parts. I now want to start doing the interior of my car. Anyways I was looking at steering wheels, and not only do I hate the default ugly design of the stock ones, but I also hate how massive it is. So I would like to purchase a smaller, grip friendly steering wheel.

Anyways, I'm debating on whether or not to get an aftermarket steering wheel.

Plus:
-Nicer feeling & handeling
-Looks way nicer

Minus:
-NO AIRBAG?!?

Now, I'm not very worried in getting a crash because of my own mistakes, but there's too many idiots out here who don't know how to drive. Especially older people who got their licenses back when road tests were a joke. Some of these old people don't keep up-to-date on new road rules (SUCH AS GOD DAMN ROUND-ABOUTS). So crashing is a definite possibility, is putting in in an aftermarket steering wheel worth it? I mean how bad can a crash on the roads be without an airbag?

[PrOjEcT2DRCB7]

Yeah whats your point? im doing the samething putting a aftermarket steering wheel just for just and safey if anyone trys to jack my car they dont have a way to driver anywhere.

[bcjammerx]

your head to steering wheel...potentially.

Airbags are an SRS...Supplemental Restraint System...while wearing your seat belt if FAR more important, the seat belt is designed to give a little during a wreck...the air bag helps cushion your forward momentum, and your head...even though the bag could give you a black eye, it can also help prevent more severe neck injuries and keeping your face out of the steering column.

There are a lot of crash test vids out there...the amount the seat moves alone is astounding! And the amount of forward motion the seat belt allows is also rather...alarming...without the airbag you could very well likely face plant the steering wheel/column if the impact is enough...say...both cars moving at 45+ mph. While two cars traveling at 40mph is not like hitting a brick wall going 80 (cars have crumple zones...walls do not) two cars traveling at 40-45+ head on will still have sufficient force to send you into the steering wheel.

cliffs notes...it is pretty important...there is a reason all cars MUST have air bags by law in the U.S.

[StreetNewb]

your head to steering wheel...potentially.

Airbags are an SRS...Supplemental Restraint System...while wearing your seat belt if FAR more important, the seat belt is designed to give a little during a wreck...the air bag helps cushion your forward momentum, and your head...even though the bag could give you a black eye, it can also help prevent more severe neck injuries and keeping your face out of the steering column.

There are a lot of crash test vids out there...the amount the seat moves alone is astounding! And the amount of forward motion the seat belt allows is also rather...alarming...without the airbag you could very well likely face plant the steering wheel/column if the impact is enough...say...both cars moving at 45+ mph. While two cars traveling at 40mph is not like hitting a brick wall going 80 (cars have crumple zones...walls do not) two cars traveling at 40-45+ head on will still have sufficient force to send you into the steering wheel.

cliffs notes...it is pretty important...there is a reason all cars MUST have air bags by law in the U.S.

Speeds on roads here are 50km/h highway is 80km/h. But yeah that's what I was thinking was hitting my head. Like wise of a head on is pretty low, but that would suck lol.I don't know about airbag laws here in Canada all I know is my sunbird didn't have one and I wasn't injured when I flew off the road going 60km/h (all seasons in winter ).

[Losiracer2]

try finding one from an Acura Vigor, they're leather wrapped and they've even got a cool addition to the cruise control...a cancel feature that plugs and plays into the CB's cruise connections. I used an Airbag from a 92-96 prelude to match the texture and gaps of the Acura wheel though. But a CB airbag would still fit...although rather ugly when paired up w/ the leather wheel

[JaberCB7]

you could try putting an s2k wheel...think someone hasa diy

[rocketman_471]

How would someone with a 90-91 that doesn't have an airbag, install an airbag?

[K2e2vin]

There are a lot of crash test vids out there...the amount the seat moves alone is astounding! And the amount of forward motion the seat belt allows is also rather...alarming...without the airbag you could very well likely face plant the steering wheel/column if the impact is enough...say...both cars moving at 45+ mph.

I'm assuming the seats belts, seat, etc. are designed to give a little(help absorb some of the impact). The steering wheel itself is not that hard but the engineers will have to figure all those technical details that I will not get into(ie: at what level would it be best for the driver's head to just hit the steering wheel vs. the effects of whiplash).

The Mitsubishi Evo's and maybe some of the newer tuner/sports cars have aftermarket-looking/small diameter steering wheels. Maybe it's possible to swap those in?


As for installing SRS; there's a lot of wires that IIRC are integrated into the main harness(so pretty much a full harness swap) and of course the module/control box(es).

[StreetNewb]

How would someone with a 90-91 that doesn't have an airbag, install an airbag?

1991 ex has air bag, no?

As far as getting a steering wheel from a new car and switch harnesses, I don't know if I'm willing to spend that much time or money on it. Maybe preludes at the junkyard are reverse compatible?