Can an Airbag Lift a Car??
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
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Do airbags have enough force to lift the weight of a car off its wheels? Well I deployed the two airbags from my lowly Corolla convertible to find out just if it could:
The Victim: My 2001 Toyota Corolla Convertible.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-pkxs9iw.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490993d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-pkxs9iw.jpg)
Started with the driver’s side airbag, behind the wheel where the pinch welds are, since those are the jack points, it should have the most punch at lifting the car.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-tc07rfz.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490994d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-tc07rfz.jpg)
I placed my brother’s toothbrush alongside the front wheel to see if it will even budge, then I deployed the airbag.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-6qjj89g.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490995d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-6qjj89g.jpg)
I went off with a startling bang that sent my neighbors over visiting.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-lqzzc2w.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490996d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-lqzzc2w.jpg)
The car did not lift up, nor did the toothbrush even move. Saddening.
But the passenger side airbag is bigger, right? I set it even closer to the body.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-zybjphp.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490997d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-zybjphp.jpg)
And the result is a flying toothbrush, but not exactly a flying Corolla…
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-zzfm9ar.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490998d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-zzfm9ar.jpg)
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-0qnrimo.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490999d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-0qnrimo.jpg)
The airbag has so much force, its own housing is warped from the explosion!
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-ljjbjil.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/491000d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-ljjbjil.jpg)
While the car did not lift, but I did find later that it punched a giant dent under the car and ripped the straight weld along the floor pan seem. A lot of force!
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-8bd2wmi.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/491001d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-8bd2wmi.jpg)
I conclude that its because the airbags are so large, and expand out sideways, that not all of its energy can be dissipated upward to launch the car.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-xdjwh4f.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/491002d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-xdjwh4f.jpg)
I’m a little bit disappointed, since I swapped that heavy 1ZZ-FE engine for a much lighter 2JZ-GTE engine…but still no takeoff.
The Victim: My 2001 Toyota Corolla Convertible.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-pkxs9iw.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490993d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-pkxs9iw.jpg)
Started with the driver’s side airbag, behind the wheel where the pinch welds are, since those are the jack points, it should have the most punch at lifting the car.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-tc07rfz.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490994d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-tc07rfz.jpg)
I placed my brother’s toothbrush alongside the front wheel to see if it will even budge, then I deployed the airbag.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-6qjj89g.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490995d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-6qjj89g.jpg)
I went off with a startling bang that sent my neighbors over visiting.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-lqzzc2w.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490996d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-lqzzc2w.jpg)
The car did not lift up, nor did the toothbrush even move. Saddening.
But the passenger side airbag is bigger, right? I set it even closer to the body.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-zybjphp.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490997d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-zybjphp.jpg)
And the result is a flying toothbrush, but not exactly a flying Corolla…
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-zzfm9ar.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490998d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-zzfm9ar.jpg)
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-0qnrimo.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/490999d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-0qnrimo.jpg)
The airbag has so much force, its own housing is warped from the explosion!
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-ljjbjil.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/491000d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-ljjbjil.jpg)
While the car did not lift, but I did find later that it punched a giant dent under the car and ripped the straight weld along the floor pan seem. A lot of force!
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-8bd2wmi.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/491001d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-8bd2wmi.jpg)
I conclude that its because the airbags are so large, and expand out sideways, that not all of its energy can be dissipated upward to launch the car.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-xdjwh4f.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/491002d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-xdjwh4f.jpg)
I’m a little bit disappointed, since I swapped that heavy 1ZZ-FE engine for a much lighter 2JZ-GTE engine…but still no takeoff.
![Can an Airbag Lift a Car??-zke7ljo.jpg](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/491003d1683153996t-can-an-airbag-lift-a-car-zke7ljo.jpg)
#2
Lexus Champion
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I wish I had your free time.
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#6
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
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Thanks guys. This was a pretty fun project, though I did scare my neighbor the first time and he wondered over asking. I really wish I got better results, if the wheel could have caught some air that would have been awesome.
Here's my "explanation"![EEK!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/eek1.gif)
Here's my "explanation"
![EEK!](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/eek1.gif)
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chabo3
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06-27-19 06:22 PM