Used Airbags for Sale

Airbags play a significant role in vehicle safety. They protect drivers and passengers during accidents by cushioning their impact. To ensure their safe deployment, these car parts undergo inspections and testing.

A1 Used Auto Parts Store has a comprehensive selection of used airbags for sale that cater to different car models. The airbags they offer include steering wheel, passenger, and side curtain.

Steering wheel airbags

An airbag is a safety device that provides vehicle occupants with soft cushioning during frontal collisions. It consists of an airbag inflation module and flexible fabric bag connected to an airbag control unit that scans a variety of sensors in the vehicle to detect a moderate or severe frontal impact. When the sensors sense a crash, they trigger the airbag control unit to ignite a gas generator propellant and rapidly inflate the bag.

The inflated bag cushions the front of the vehicle occupant and reduces injuries by deflecting impacting objects such as other cars, trees, poles, etc. It can also provide a protective shield against flying projectiles and glass from the windshield in the event of a rollover collision.

While airbags have saved countless lives, they can cause serious injury if the driver or passengers are too close to the device when it deploys. This risk is higher for drivers who sit too closely to the steering wheel (especially short drivers), children seated in rear-facing car seats, and aftermarket dash or seat covers that can block the airbag’s coverage area or redirect its force.

To minimize injury, experts recommend keeping a minimum of 10 inches between the center of your chest and the steering wheel airbag cover when driving. For shorter drivers, reclining the seatback or using pedal extenders may help to achieve this goal. Newer vehicles may also take into account a driver’s stature and deploy the airbag with less force.

Passenger airbags

In modern cars, airbags are positioned around the vehicle to protect its occupants from impacting hard surfaces in a crash. They can include steering wheel, passenger, side-curtain, seat-mounted, knee bolster and driver’s door airbag modules. These are activated by sensors that detect a significant change in acceleration or a collision with an object. When the sensor activates, an electric current runs through a heating element. This causes a chemical explosive to ignite, creating a burst of gas that fills the nylon bag.

Airbags are able to deploy within 0.04 seconds of the onset of an accident. This is because a car’s acceleration can change quickly during a collision. The accelerometer sends a signal to the airbag circuit, which then sends an electrical current through a heater and a chemical explosive. This chemical reaction generates a large amount of harmless gas, which is sent into a nylon bag that covers the driver and passenger’s heads and chest. The airbags are designed to prevent drivers and passengers from slamming their head or bodies into the dashboard, steering wheel or windshield during a frontal collision. However, they are not intended to inflate in rear collisions, rollover crashes or when driving over bumps or potholes.

While the airbag system is a great safety innovation, it can be dangerous to occupants if they come into close contact with the airbag while it is still deploying. Many people have been killed or injured by airbags when they have brushed up against the fabric as it’s inflating. To avoid this, ensure that the airbag light is off and that you are not wearing something that could be pulled on by the airbag when it activates.

Side curtain airbags

While not as popular or recognizable as the steering wheel airbag, the side curtain airbag is still an important safety feature. These long inflatable curtains deploy along the sides of the vehicle's front and second row seats in a side impact collision, absorbing much of the force that might otherwise send occupants flying into the back seat or out the window.

In one study, researchers found that severe soft-tissue damage to the upper arms of passengers in side impacts was reduced by up to 45% with curtain airbags. This reduction in injuries can mean less time in the hospital and fewer complications, such as skin grafts and even partial or full arm amputations.

While side curtain airbags aren't as common as they were in the mid-2000s, many vehicles still come equipped with these lifesaving safety features. It's a good idea to ask about them when shopping for your next used car, and to take advantage of them when driving it.

At A1 Used Auto Parts Store, we have a wide selection of used airbags for sale that cater to various vehicle makes and models. Our customers can expect quality, affordable airbags that are rigorously inspected and tested to meet stringent safety standards. We also offer professional installation to ensure the best possible performance of your vehicle's airbags.

Knee airbags

Airbags in cars have a long track record of saving lives and reducing serious injuries in crashes. The industry is constantly developing new safety features and incorporating them into their vehicles. A fairly recent development is the knee airbag, which aims to protect the driver and front passenger’s legs from injury in a crash. A knee airbag is typically positioned underneath the lower dashboard and works by distributing impact forces across an occupant’s legs to reduce leg injuries. There are two main types of knee airbags. One type uses the inflated bag itself to press against the occupant’s knees, while another type uses a large, padded “knee bolster” panel that is permanently attached to the airbag.

Both types of knee airbags are activated by sensors that measure the severity of an accident and send a signal to inflate the bags in a fraction of a second. They also fire seatbelt pre-tensioners to remove slack from the driver and front passenger’s restraints as they deploy. It is important to remember that airbags are a supplementary safety feature and cannot replace the function of seat belts, which should be worn at all times in all circumstances.