Driver Air Bag - Description

DESCRIPTION





The injection molded, thermoplastic driver airbag protective trim cover (2) is the most visible part of the driver airbag. The driver airbag is located in the center of the steering wheel (1), where it is secured to the armature within the hub cavity of the four-spoke steering wheel. An injection molded, bright emblem with the Dodge Ram logo is applied to the center of the trim cover.





Concealed beneath the driver air bag trim cover (2) are the folded airbag cushion, the airbag housing (1), the airbag inflator (3) and the retainers that secure the inflator to the housing. The airbag cushion, housing and inflator are secured within an integral receptacle molded into the back of the trim cover. The vertical walls of this receptacle have a total of 16 small windows with blocking tabs that are engaged by 16 hook formations around the perimeter of the airbag housing. Each hook is inserted through one of the windows and the blocking tab in each window keeps the hook properly engaged with the trim cover, locking the trim cover securely into place on the airbag housing.

The driver airbag is secured through two mounting tabs (4) integral to the stamped steel airbag housing by two screws to the horn switch armature located within the hub cavity of the steering wheel. The mounting provisions are accessed through clearance holes located at each side of the steering wheel hub trim cover.

The airbag used in this vehicle is a multistage-type that complies with revised federal airbag standards to deploy with less force than those used in some prior vehicles. A radial deploying 67.3 centimeter (26.5 inch) diameter fabric airbag cushion with internal tethers is used. The airbag inflator is a dual-initiator, non-azide, pyrotechnic-type unit and is secured to the stamped metal airbag housing using four flanged hex nuts. Two keyed and color-coded connector receptacles on the driver airbag inflator connect the two inflator initiators to the vehicle electrical system through two, two-wire pigtail harnesses of the clockspring.

The driver airbag cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, ineffective, or in any way damaged.