ok.. i've been thinking about this for a while...

i'm talking about a 5th gen prelude... as far as i can tell the front suspension setup on my Edm lude is the same as the USdm base model...

it has the front crossmember holding the front engine mount and factory "traction bars".. dunno what else to call them in english

now.. just for the sake of arguement... could a lude do without? if you were to make some other traction bar setup...
i've made a simple model of what i'm talking about... it needs some more strength added to it to say the least... but it's to get an idea:


i know you'll need new motor mounts to delete the front one...
i thought... since just about every civic runs without a front crossmember (different suspension setup)... why not a prelude?

so my question really... has any1 ever tried running a lude like this?
is the crossmember really needed for strength in the front of the car... or is it just there to hold the engine mount and factory "traction bars"

i just dont see 4 12mm bolts adding a lot of strength to the car...
plz share your opinion... even if it involves me being crazy

 

i think you would want to tie the front frame together also. tighter feel in the corners.
i would also use stronger bolts.....

 

the bolts holding the heim joints are the same m12 (12mm) bolts as used to hold the crossmember... think they would be too small?

dunno if i'm with you on the tighter feel though... might be... but how about the civics then?
hmm.. maybe i should find a civic owner that installed traction bars and see if he noticed anything in handling that way...

so... to use a bar between the points or not to... more opinions please

edit: typo...

 

I hope that front mounting point is inline with the rest of the suspension geometry, otherwise you'll run into some binding issues.

I would definitely recommend running a crossbar that ties the sides together. Or just go with one of the production aftermarket traction bars like the ESP traction bars:

http://www.explicitspeedperformance.net/TBS.html

If you're looking to eliminate the front mount all together, look into SOLID engine mounts for the remaining three mounts.

 

That's not going to work properly. End of story.

 

ok
better make some proper new ones then

i am going to get the innovative mounts with the 85a inserts... that should do the trick...

 

Yeah, that's some good thinking outside the box , but I wouldn't do that to my Prelude....

It's bad enough taking out the brace from the front-to-rear crossmember for a traction bar