QuestionHey, Im thinking about buying a Jeep CJ5, but my dad says it needs an airbag. My question is can you put a after-market airbag into a CJ and how much work/money it would take? Thanks for your time!
-Brian
AnswerI've never heard of anyone installing an airbag in to a vehicle that did not come with it from the factory. I seriously doubt that you will find a company will to sell you much less install the system.
The airbag systems of the early 90's included inertia sensors similar "G" sensor used to detect how quickly a component changes positions (bad description, sorry), the airbag module, the airbag and of course wiring. In addition to that there was an electrical component behind the steering wheel specially designed to be twisted and untwisted over and over again without snapping or binding up.
In addition to the electronics aspect of things is the legal side. There's TONS of paper work, testing, Research and developing that goes in to just making a seat belt for even this cj5 and it's what... 20 +/- years old. If you throw an explosively deployed pillow in to the mix there's just way too much involved for any company to justify wanting to make and sell this component.
Finally, vehicle technology has changed dramatically and the newer cars, while over-all are safer, HAVE to have crumple zones, multi-stage airbags, side curtain airbags and the like because they aren't made of good old American steel like they used to be.
You're going to have to settle for a newer Jeep if your Dad requires airbags.
Sorry,
Doug
