I know this isnt offtopic but this is where everyone looks, not just the accord guys and civic guys...so here it is.
Ok I've got a few question for those that have removed the airbag...what are you using? are you still using the stock accord seat belts? or some racing harness? and for those that use racing harness har safe are they on the streets? I want to remove my airbag...not for weight or performance but more because i'm short and i sit real close to it, so if it were to go off, i'd probaly **** me up instead of saving me...i think tehy recommend you sit 17 inches from it? i sit around 10-10 which is pretty close lol But I was thinking of removing the wheel, gettin a smaller one, and once i get some racing seats going i could add the harnesses...but My friend told me that its not recommended..being as how the stock seats give a little bit before they lock...and the harnesses keep you strapped all the way....so in a big colission your body wont give...but your neck will causing some serious damage? anyone info or thoughs on this guys??

 

i had racing harness b4...

imo...if ure gonna have it real tight....itll b very uncomfortable...when u try to turn to ur body just a bit..it feels really tight...so i guess that may help you in an accident...but not very practical driving around town...

if u loosen it a lil...its actually very nice...<i guess having racing seats do help> but i still recommend having an airbag..
i know for a fact that some insurance companies will not cover u if u mess around with the srs system...

 

btw.....if ure gonna get the harnesses...please mount them properly...its critically important for ur safety

 

hmm...yea i know it is illegal to remove it...but i haerd from another friend that this girl got it removed legally because it was a harzard...i'll have to look into that with either a police officer or dmv or insurance company.

 

just make sure that ur insurance company is fine with it...
as for the dmv...u could just say that its malfunctioned and u had to have it removed

 

yea...what i'm more concerned about is how safe it is to drive around...and the whole issue with the little slack that the stock belts give against the no slack at all for the harnesses that seems reasonable that it could cause damage since it doesnt alow your body to give, only your head and neck.

 

If you want to use a harness, use it with a rollbar. If you don't have/want a rollbar, don't use a harness. The stock seatbelts are designed to let your body move in an accident, away from things crushing...like the roof. If the roof were to crush, your body can move down closer to the floor and out of harms way. If you're in a harness, you're stuck where you are...say buh bye to your head. A roll bar will still protect your head.

 

Okay, when I used my Sparco Sprint seats in the Suzuki Swift GTi, I used the 3" belts w/ snap-in mountings. I had to fabricate my own mounts out of 1/4" steel- welded- and use ASE fasteners to bolt the seats to the bases. So if you stick with FIA certified seats and hardware (I doubt you'll need to fabricate mounts) you should be fine.

About airbags: Federal law prohibits the removal of airbags. But the law is rarely enforced-usually. Keep this in mind. I had passive seatbelts in the Suzuki, I ditched them in favor of the Sparco harnesses, and never had any trouble with the law.

Regarding the safety of racing harnesses: Spend money on quality, FIA-certified 3" belts. Keep them comfortably snug when in the car. The belts should not have any slack in them while you are driving, because if you get in a bad wreck, you want the belts to restrain your body as the car decelerates. If the belts are slack, you will be injured as the loose belts "catch" your torso-resulting in bad bruises, possibly broken bones.

So all in all, buy quality and use the harnesses correctly and you will be at least as safe as stock, if not more so.

Hope I helped.

Dave

 

very very good point.

 

Also with roll bars, pad them! Head hit roll bar, head crack open, driver bleeds out. Not fun.

And also, most fixed back seats will give a bit in a severe frontal impact. Fortunately, I never got to that point with the Suzuki. :skeered: