Had this milling around in my noggin for a while, plus i think we need some more in depth technical discussion here instead of the quick and easy questions we seem to get lately.

I'm asking because I'curious, not because i'm knocking anybody's ideas or parts.
just wanted to get that out in the open.

With any of the few "traction bar" systems designed for the prelude, what is the benefit that would give better traction over an OEM crossmember and radius rods? As far as I can see (and really, i'm no suspension specialist or anything) the advantage might be the solid mounting of the rad. rods over the OEM bushings. But that can be fixed with a spherical bearing mod that i've seen done a few times (someone one here sells them i believe. i think he races a red 5tth gen?) I can see other advantages like bigger exhaust clearance for downpipes and with the great adjustability, alignments get easier/more dialed in i guess.

explicitspeed is 350 or 450 w/ torque mount, not sure who else sells these for a prelude, but 450 seems steep for the setup


rad. rods are 63 and 35 for left and right (not sure why one is double the other price..)
OEM bushings are 7.29 ea. (x4)
Not sure how much aftermarket bushing sare the spherical bearing kit is, but tops we are looking at 175-200 for that vs up to 450 for aftermarket (based on the ONE place i know that makes them.. )

So, school me to to why I should buy a traction bar system instead of buying new radius rods and hard bushings or spherical bearing kit.

 

You're pretty much right about the advantages/disadvantages... The only difference aside from less caster (forward/back) play is the weight and space differences. With a traction bar setup you are getting about the same performance as some solid bushings, but you loose more weight and gain more clearance down there. Plus you also gain some adjustability.

 

does anyone know who else makes these for 4th gens? I feel like 450 is kinda steep. it is just square tube with lazered/welded plates and some rods.. yea it prolly took a little bit to get them going but the markup on them must be 3x or more. or am i high right now?

 

The ES bushings that I have work great compared to the stock bushings. I very rarely get any wheel hop. It would be nice to lose some more weight up there tho. I've heard that the spherical bearing setup isnt very pratical since they wearout quick for a DD.

 

most prelude traction bars dont come with a front engine mount, i only know of one that does, and i cant remember the name right now.. if you do get one you might want to get some kind of motor mounts to go with it...My traction bar is from PFI, it was for a 4th gen, but made some different rods so it would work on my 5th gen, and i run solid motor mounts without the front mount....

 

website for above bar?
the explicitspeed one comes with an optional front mount.

 

The Explicit bar is a quality piece I can vouch for that. Maybe it doesnt look like it should cost that much money but there is alot that goes into something like that. I have the $450 setup with the front mount and everything fit perfectly, I was really impressed with it.

If you were going to do the spherical bearing setup why would you need to buy new radius rods?

 

esp bar is nice! Only down side is it clicks when youtake off from a stop some times, but some wd40 takes care of that.

 

i priced the rad rods out because mine are screwed up, sorry i was more or less typing what i was thinking. I was trying to calc. how much either was going to cost for me; and new rad. rods would be needed if i didn't get a traction bar

 

pfispeed.com is their website, but I think you have to call and ask them about it, they don't sell product on the website last I checked. BTW this is the shop that has done work and tuning on both oaksracing and gregbb1's cars, not to mention Brent's sick F20 powered civic drag car.

 

Ive been trying to get a 4th gen over here for fab work

 

I just replaced my strut rod bushings with Moog replacements which are much harder than the stock ones and it feels alot stiffer. I also have decreased my wheel hop for 40.00

 

where you located in Boston? I could possibly get out there depending on how long you needed a car for.

 

the torsion bars or radius rods, (bar that goes from knuckle back to front cross member) is a lot thinner and weaker as OEM, the ones that come with the traction bar kit are thicker, and are adjustable, thats one of the main advantages, and the other is the crossmember upgrade, keeping your chassis straight during launches.

 

I recently placed an order for the ESP bar, waiting for it to arrive now.
I was debating between the esp and pfi and the things that helped make my decision was the better ground and crank pulley clearance as well as the additional front torque mount option. I already have stiff innovative mounts so i don't need the front mount and i get no wheel hop so it isn't necessary but i figured why not just order it cause i'm sure it will help with vibration and provide more support.
I originally just had the stock crossmember notched and welded (to fit 3" downpipe) but one of the welds started to crack so i figured it was time to pick up a traction bar.

so i don't know how to compare any of this with the idea you have to just replace parts on the oem setup, but if you decide on a traction bar this is some good info to have when looking.

 

I have been running modified radius rods and bushings for quite some time now. I believe this will give similar effect to a traction bar setup.

I documented it here: http://www.preludeaustralia.com/foru...ht=radius+rods