Airbag Systems Comparison
Comparison of various airbag systems from different designers, detailing specifications such as year introduced, bags per side, manufacturer, part numbers, vendors, and pricing information.
Content article
The comparison of airbag systems includes seven different designs, ranging from systems introduced in 1973 to those released as recently as 2011. General Motors' OEM system, introduced in 1973, features one bag per side and is manufactured by Firestone, but it is no longer available. In contrast, the Four Bag system, designed by Leigh Harrison and introduced in 1995, utilizes two bags per side and has a retail price of approximately $105 as of January 2015.
The Quadra Bag system, introduced in 2010 by Jim Kanomata, also features two bags per side and is priced at $98, while the Southland system, released in 2011, has one bag per side and is priced at $300. Dan Hensley's system, which combines elements from 1991 and 2011, has one bag per side and is not available for retail purchase. Silver Motor Coach's SullyBilt system, introduced in 2011, includes two bags per side and is priced at $110, and Todd Sullivan's system is similarly priced at $151.
Regarding performance, the OEM system operates at a maximum bag pressure of 105 psig, while the Four Bag system has a normal ride height pressure range of 80-90 psig. The Quadra Bag system operates at a pressure range of 100-110 psig, and the Southland system maintains a pressure of 90 psig. The Hensley system operates at a range of 90-100 psig, while the Silver Motor Coach system operates at 70 psig, and the SullyBilt system ranges from 60-65 psig.
Installation times vary across the systems, with the Four Bag, Quadra Bag, and Southland systems requiring 4-6 hours for both sides, while the Hensley, Silver Motor Coach, and SullyBilt systems can be installed in about one hour. Ease of installation is generally straightforward for most systems, though some may require difficult access or high torque work.
The systems have been installed in varying quantities, with the OEM system having 12,921 installations as of 1979, while the Four Bag system had over 200 installations by June 2011. The Quadra Bag system has been installed in 12 units, and the Southland system had five installations as of May 2011. The Hensley system also had five installations by January 2012.
Design features across these systems include resilience to the loss of a single bag per side, with the Four Bag and Quadra Bag systems noted for improved handling, especially when towing. However, skeptics have raised concerns about a firmer ride compared to OEM systems and potential side-load stresses.
In terms of pricing, the system prices without shipping vary significantly. The Four Bag system is priced at $1,075, while the Quadra Bag system is listed at $1,598. The Southland system's price is unavailable, while the Hensley system costs approximately $750, and the Silver Motor Coach system is priced at $600. The SullyBilt system is slightly higher at $690, with the total cost for the system including both sides amounting to $849.
Shipping costs for the systems also differ, with the Four Bag system estimated at $50, while the Quadra Bag system incurs a shipping price of $34 plus the cost of bags.
For further details, installation instructions and product pages are available for most systems, although some links may be offline or damaged. The airbag data sheets for specific models are also accessible, providing additional technical specifications for interested users.