reupholstery & side airbags

[cecil snyder]

I recently purchased a 1997 V90. 130,000 miles, good mechanical condition, but it needs to be reupholstered. One shop I inquired at told me that reupholstering the front seats would render the side airbags inoperable. I gather that they deploy by bursting through the upholstery along the side bolster adjacent to the door. The other upholstery shops I went to either scratched their heads or assured me that it would make no difference. Of course this is not something you can really put to the test. I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge on this subject. Is there something about the original upholstery--a weakened seam or panel perhaps--that was designed to accommodate the deployment of the airbags? Or would the deployment of the airbags break through the new upholstery (vinyl) just as easily?

[precopster]

If you're really keen it's best to retain factory upper covers. Have a look in classifieds, eBay etc for good used seats in the same colour as yours; far easier & cheaper to swap than to re-upholster.

The airbags are supposed to deploy with a serious side knock. I have a '99 V70 driver's seat in the backyard I have thrown bricks at to see the airbag fire off and it just won't. Don't know what this means; faulty??

At least if you replace the seats or just have someone change the skins you know you'll retain the factory stitching which is designed to break upon deployment.