I have a steering wheel assembly from a 940 including the air bag and want to render the airbag completely harmless as in removing the charge from the assembly so the steering wheel can be used for a kids toy. Anyone ever done such a thing? YouTube has videos showing folks exploding airbags, but I want to preserve the container which holds it. TD

 

I know of no way to disarm the primer squib inside. if you hardwire the terminals together in a manner that can't be undone or broken, its rendered fairly safe, but the explosive remains inside. afaik, they are hermetically sealed, so submerging it in water won't do anything.

you can remove the airbag from the steering wheel but that leaves a kinda ugly center area. maybe 3D print a plastic shell replacement ?

or, remove, and intentionally detonate the airbag in a safe area away from the car (and wearing a full face safety mask, etc), then clean it up, fill it with just enough 2-part Styrofoam resin, and reform the split pieces of the cover back to their original shape. wipe off any excess foam that oozes out until it cures.

 

There are a dozen pop rivets holding what I assume is the charge element on the back of the assembly. How about I carefully drill out those rivets?

 

a spark could set off the squib.

 

Uncle Sam should have used me in ordinance disarming! I managed to cut aound the edge of the rubber. Next I will set it off .... with a long wire!

 

i'd bolt it down to something before setting it off, as its gonna go flying if its loose.

 

Gonna do it in an open field. With the air-bag attached it might just gently float back to earth! I'll let you know how high it goes.

 

Airbag education completed.Tried but failed to upload a 9 sec clip of setting off the airbag. We set it up with the the bag down so as to propel the unit as high as possible. Made it about 30 feet into the air. I then removed the spent charge holder and now back together, the steering wheel is harmless and ready for the grandkids soapbox car.

 

put the vid on youtube and post the URL here