Some Info On Pillar Mounted Gauges....

DRKNYTE

Member
:
2008 MAZDASPEED 3 (BLACK MICA)
I`ve been researching options on mounting gauges and have read several threads saying that on our SPD 3's its not a good idea to have pillar mount gauge pods. So I decided to research if indeed the side curtin air bags deploy from the piller it's self or from the top of the window, here is what I found:

(from mazda's website)

Front and Rear Side Air Curtains
Any of the models listed above that are equipped with side air bags will also be equipped with front and rear side air curtains. In the event of a side impact, the side curtains from the impacted side deploy from the upper door frames after receiving an operating signal from the SAS control module. The curtain spreads clear across the side door windows offering head protection for both the front and rear passengers. Tribute Side air curtains are designed to deploy in the event of accidental roll-over.

You guys can draw your own conclusions but I think we are ok mounting pillar pods
 
The risk involved of interfering with those pillars is not a risk i'm willing to take. As much as i'd like pillar gauges, I don't want my gauge install to prevent the curtains from inflating in the event I need them.

Side curtain airbags are extremely important, my sister suffered a brain injury from a collision as a passenger, and it was a proven fact that if the vehicle she was a passenger in would have had it, she would have been able to escape the traumatic brain injury.
 
Silver Ecstasy: the side curtains from the impacted side deploy from the upper door frames .... NOT the pillar.

But I understand your concern I wish your sister the best..... God bless her!
 
That's where she hit her head. The car slid out of control into the opposite lane of traffic and they were hit perpendicularly by a Ford F-150. The side curtain bags could have prevented the direct hit against the door/b-pillar.

I meant it in reference to the fact that, if you have the protection and they didn't deploy, that'd be a devastating thing.
 
Or just as bad, if there was any sort of interference and the bags deployed shooting the pods into your face.
 
I`ve been researching options on mounting gauges and have read several threads saying that on our SPD 3's its not a good idea to have pillar mount gauge pods. So I decided to research if indeed the side curtin air bags deploy from the piller it's self or from the top of the window, here is what I found:

(from mazda's website)

Front and Rear Side Air Curtains
Any of the models listed above that are equipped with side air bags will also be equipped with front and rear side air curtains. In the event of a side impact, the side curtains from the impacted side deploy from the upper door frames after receiving an operating signal from the SAS control module. The curtain spreads clear across the side door windows offering head protection for both the front and rear passengers. Tribute Side air curtains are designed to deploy in the event of accidental roll-over.

You guys can draw your own conclusions but I think we are ok mounting pillar pods

There is a guy that posted pictures of his totaled speed3, you can see clearly that the pillar plastic didn't even move. I thought this was all cleared up a long time ago, when the guy totaled his black Mazdaspeed3. Piller PODS are a GO, no problems.
 
Shameless plug here - for those of you who have the A-pillar guage pod, PM me if you want to sell your stock A-pillar. I need one that isn't damaged as mine has a nasty cigarette burn on it from the previous owner.
 
Ditto on the 'not worth the risk'. Side curtain air bags on my RX-8 probably saved me from severe head injury (unfortunately the car did not survive).
 
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