Adjustable steering column

[steve greening]

Hi does any one know if you can fit an adjustable steering column to a fixed column car with an airbag and still retain a working airbag? Is this possible or safe!!! Anybody with any experience?
Cheers Steve.

[planetc]

No, the adjustable column is not designed with the strength for the airbag in the event of it triggering. That is why the later cars with airbag had fixed columns with additional bracing. It would physically fit, but isn't up to the job design wise.

[steve greening]

Thanks for that, I thought that might be the case and I guess that's why the went backwards with a fixed column. I wonder if a vectra column might be up to the job? Or do you think the sheer bolts and fixings on the cav just would not be suitable?

[planetc]

Vectra has an adjustable column designed to cope with an airbag, but I think the mounting design is different.

[Envoy CDX]

Vectra has an adjustable column designed to cope with an airbag, but I think the mounting design is different.

Yup, the bottom bracket needs to be shifted up by 3-4 mm (from basic measurements and offering up) Similar design, just a beefier version, for the benefit it will provide, I am still not convinced its worth the hassle (yet).

[steve greening]

Thanks for the info, I agree it's probably not worth it for all the work but I do find it hard to get a good driving position with my v6 but also I don't want to do without such an important safety device of an airbag!! Maybe give it go and see?

[cavalier1990]

I fitted an adjustable column to my old cavy pre airbag and it's not too hard a job, except getting them damm shear bolts off. What I found was a 13 mm snap on socket on a big extension and some gentle hammering upwards will create a small hex imprint on the shear nut enough for you to move it.

Wanted to fit adjustable column to my new cavy with the air bag but not sure it is MOT-able like that, they might not know it has to be fixed but i Imagine the wiring would be a nightmare and the safety will probably be compromised.

[northern lad]

is the calibra one not compatible?

[Hayward691]

From what I've read here... It's the mounts in the car itself that has the issue...
My understanding is... You would need to beef up the car mounts to make it safe... Or... Loose the air bag and remove the warning light.. it would pass an mot that way as long as they didn't know it was factory fitted with one...