Crush Cans
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
The highlighted part above is true.
However, thay DO have an affect on the air bags. They absorb small impacts, like the 5mph bumper on most other vehicles, without that small impact triggering the air bags.
Removing the crush cans will likely cause air bag deployment when normally they would not have deployed.
However, thay DO have an affect on the air bags. They absorb small impacts, like the 5mph bumper on most other vehicles, without that small impact triggering the air bags.
Removing the crush cans will likely cause air bag deployment when normally they would not have deployed.
The air bags are triggered by an accelerometer within the vehicle measuring the speed of the vehicle slowing down and using that to determine if you are in a head on collision, roll, etc.... to deploy the appropriate air bags. The bags are in no way, shape, or form tied into the bumper, or anything near the bumper. The cans are no more than over glorified soup cans, and there isn't enough strength in an empty Campbells soup can to support me, let alone my vehicle.
I "in no way, shape, or form" implied the bags are " tied into the bumper, or anything near the bumper."
The cans serve as a means to mitigate the rapid deceleration of a hard mounted bumper. That is what's in the message of my post. That is what the crush cans do. They are there because the JK has no 5mph bumper like almost all other vehicles have today.
Last edited by ronjenx; Apr 28, 2009 at 10:43 AM.
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
thay DO have an affect on the air bags. They absorb small impacts, like the 5mph bumper on most other vehicles, without that small impact triggering the air bags.
Removing the crush cans will likely cause air bag deployment when normally they would not have deployed
Removing the crush cans will likely cause air bag deployment when normally they would not have deployed
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
To me you are saying that in a low speed accident the crush cans "may" keep the air bags from going off. I have spoken to a Jeep engineer, and they said it is there mostly to protect the frame in a low speed impact, and also partly for federally mandated safety standards. They will never keep an airbag from deploying,. It is just there so that if you ever get into a low speed accident that just happens to be exactly lined up with the frame rail, they may allow save you from having some frame damage.
I do know the bags are not tied to the bumper. I was saying removing the cans could cause a more rapid deceleration in a small impact.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Doswell, Virginia--- Roanoke, VA
I didn't think you could even get an aftermarket bumper on there without taking the crush cans off. I have a smittybilt front bumper and there is no way to attach it without taking all the oem bumper crap off
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 1
From: Des Moines, Iowa
AEV , ARB, and Mopar are the only companies reusing them.
JK Jedi
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,831
Likes: 2
From: SoCal, USA
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modified-jk-tech-2/front-bumpers-air-bag-compatible-83621/
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Europe, Finland
In Europe we do not have those "crush cans" at all..
Instead we have this beatifull bumber desing, wich is feather like plastic POS, and defenately meant for pedestrian safety and nothing to do with airbag deploymet or car frame safety...If you kick the palstic bumber it will have a dent.
Instead we have this beatifull bumber desing, wich is feather like plastic POS, and defenately meant for pedestrian safety and nothing to do with airbag deploymet or car frame safety...If you kick the palstic bumber it will have a dent.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
Anything that absorbs impact will reduce the possibility of air bag deployment. But the window of effectiveness is quite small. You have to hit the cans first and be driving less than 5 miles above the minimum bag deployment speed. So basically if the bag opens at 20mph.. your cans are effective between 20 and 24 mph assuming you hit the cans perfectly. If you hit a tree and miss the cans, they don't do squat for you. If you only hit one can... your effective window is cut in half. So basically, unless you are good at winning the lotto... do not worry about the cans.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
Anything that absorbs impact will reduce the possibility of air bag deployment. But the window of effectiveness is quite small. You have to hit the cans first and be driving less than 5 miles above the minimum bag deployment speed. So basically if the bag opens at 20mph.. your cans are effective between 20 and 24 mph assuming you hit the cans perfectly. If you hit a tree and miss the cans, they don't do squat for you. If you only hit one can... your effective window is cut in half. So basically, unless you are good at winning the lotto... do not worry about the cans.
I would think it's the only way to have a solidly mounted bumper on the Jeep. After all, people mount winches and tow hooks on the front bumper.