ETD Traction Bar install and review.
 

Well I decided to upgrade my traction bar from the ETD 1st gen model to their latest offering. My first impression when I laid eyes upon the new design was how beefy it is compared to their first design. The welds look excellent and the quality of hardware and radius rods are 2nd to none. Heres some pics of the bar.
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Installation of the bar was easy so anyone with any common sense could do this install in a couple of hours, its as easy as following the carefully laid out instructions. On to the install.....

First remove the tow hooks and old traction bar or crossmember depending on which you have.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...h/IMG_1404.jpg
Next raise the bar up to the old tow hook location and tighten finger tight. You will need some play when lining up the all of the holes so leave slack. Remember to use anti sieze.
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Once the bar is in place and the bolts lined up tighten to the specs in the instructions.
Use the supplied brackets to join the traction bar to the stock crossmember mouning spot. Now your bar is attached using 8 points on the chssis.
Attachment 480280
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Next lay out the hardware which is used to connect the radius rods to the LCA as per instructions.
Attachment 480277
Attach to LCA finger tight.
Attachment 480283
Next attach rod ends to radius rods with jam nuts in place.
Attachment 480284
Monster radius rods! About as thick as the drive shaft.
Attachment 480278
Attach radius rods to the LCA and traction bar, make sure to leave the same amount of thread on each side for adjustability.
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Leave enough room between the jam nut and rod for adjustment.
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Next I made radiator brackets to keep thins in place, you could buy the brackets avaialble @ ETD by I decided to fab my own.
Attachment 480292
Lower car off of jack stands and turn radius rods with hand until slight tension is achieved, tighten jam nuts. Its reccomended to have an alignment done after installation as you caster and toe might be a little off. In my case the car tracked straight after installation.
Thats it, all done.
Attachment 480293
I'd like to give a big shout out to John and Mike @ ETD racing for their legendary customer service and for being down to earth guys who go the extra mile for their customers.
Good job.
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Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (Mr.Death)
 

https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif
What radiator did you use?

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (88ED8)
 

Fluidyne
Attachment 480268

can you tell me how long the radius rods are?

Sweeet, I gonna have to one ,

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (Mr.Death)
 

NICE!

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (Mr.Death)
 

i have this same setup on my 89 dx hatch with the b16 swap & the radius arms seem to make a lot of noise on dirt roads and going over big bumps http://images.honda-tech.com/set1//smile/emcrook.gif i checked all my hardware to ensure everything was nice and tight (and no nuts and bolts were loose or missing! LOL!!!), and everything was in order. i was just wondering if you've experienced a similar problem with yours? also, do you know an aftermarket company (besides ETD) that makes those radius arms?

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (Mr.Death)
 

how did you get those small silver brackets to line up where the stock cross member was? Mine are off and wont line up https://honda-tech.com/zeroavatar/192549

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (bird00420)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bird00420 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have this same setup on my 89 dx hatch with the b16 swap & the radius arms seem to make a lot of noise on dirt roads and going over big bumps http://images.honda-tech.com/set1//smile/emcrook.gif i checked all my hardware to ensure everything was nice and tight (and no nuts and bolts were loose or missing! LOL!!!), and everything was in order. i was just wondering if you've experienced a similar problem with yours? also, do you know an aftermarket company (besides ETD) that makes those radius arms?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Since the bar used HEIM joints they tend to be quit noisey during daily driven use. Even under heaving braking mine would make noise! No noise=crossmember from innovative or stock https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emthdown.gif

Awesome. I want one.

But what I miss on all the after market crossmembers, is a flat jack-point.

Re: (SETI20)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SETI20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Awesome. I want one.

But what I miss on all the after market crossmembers, is a flat jack-point.</TD></TR></TABLE>

time for a new floor jack https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

nice post! makes me want this. i guess this is a great way to find out if your frame's bent as well... lol

Re: (Pee Wee)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pee Wee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

time for a new floor jack https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>Still makes me want a flat jack point.

Re: (SETI20)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SETI20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Still makes me want a flat jack point.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Flat jack point or not, the traction bar isn't made to be a lift point.

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (FatalCrixer)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FatalCrixer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how did you get those small silver brackets to line up where the stock cross member was? Mine are off and wont line up https://honda-tech.com/zeroavatar/192549 </TD></TR></TABLE>

Has your car ever been in a wreck?

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (Jonathan_ED3)
 

from what i've read, there is a known issue with those brackets. there is a slight difference between 88-89 and 90-91 cars

Re: (90sedan)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90sedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Flat jack point or not, the traction bar isn't made to be a lift point. </TD></TR></TABLE>I don't see why not. The material is thicker than the original subframe, sufficiently supported. And the original subframe has a jack point as well.

It will need to cope with a hell of a lot more force under acceleration. So if you're worried that your alignment will go out of whack, or you'd damage your parts...the build quality is not what you paid for.

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (Mr.Death)
 

[QUOTE=Mr.Death]
Attachment 478283QUOTE]

Are you not concerned that your radiator mount bracket is the low point, and if it hits, its going to spin and rip a hole in the aluminum radiator where it is mounted to?

I like the innovative mounting approach, but if were mine, i'd redesign with something a little safer. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (Mr.Death)
 

Why did you leave out the part about having to modify your "Silver Brackets".
Attachment 478280
Obviously didnt line up.
Attachment 478281
and this doesnt seem like the safest way to mount a traction bar.
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This just seems more like an advertisement for etd then tech If your going to do a write up dont leave out important steps like cutting mounting brackets. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emhammer.gif

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2354559

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (johnnyonth3spot)
 

that's my big beef with this design...those brackets aren't a good replacement for the crossmember mounting points. the whole thing is really relying on the tow hook holes

Re: (SETI20)
 

i've been jacking mine up on my etd traction bar for two years no issues. but i get it in the air put it on stands and get it off...

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review.
 

First remove the tow hooks and old traction bar or crossmember depending on which you have.
Attachment 471372


What size are the bolts that connect to the old traction bar?
Thanks.

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review. (FatalCrixer)
 

No never been in a wreck, I realized that the brackets are machined wrong, I just had to modify.

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review.
 

Had one of these and the squeeking was intollerable. And had that fitment issue like the poster above.

Re: ETD Traction Bar install and review.
 

i just got introduced to this last weekend, and i cant wait to order mine, from the sounds of it, they work great!