Possibly a stupid question, as I haven't put much thought into it... but why do traction bars always come with a tubular cross bar to replace the bumper support? Why not just bolt/weld brackets to the existing bumper support to accept the rod ends?

 

I'll guess, to stiffen the front end.

 

what tractions bar go to the bumper support moutning points? They must be new cause i havent seen them.

 

I haven't seen them either, but I don't see why I should pay $300 for traction bars when I can buy two threaded bars, a couple of heim joints, and whip up some brackets for under $50.

For the sake of crash safety, I'd much rather keep my OEM bumper support.

 

Wait, can you use the traction bars in conjunction with the bumper support? I assumed that the bars directly replaced the support.

 

Do what??...Traction bar...Bumper support...2 totally different things

 

Okay then, where I'm coming from: every car I've seen with traction bars doesn't have a bumper support (aka front cross member). Maybe this is because cars with traction bars typically have massive intercoolers and the owners have ditched the support to make space... But I always figured the bars replaced the support and used the same frame-rail mounting points.

 

I understood what u were getting at, but people were confused because bumper support and front Cross member are not the same thing. But people make their own traction bars all the time man.

 

Why? Because it works... and it's also similar to what honda does on models that come with radius rods (88-91 civic/crx, accord, prelude).

 

Well people like to make up their own terminology. According to what I think (and the rest of the automotive world thinks...), the cross member is the stiffening piece that connects the two sides of the front subframe at the control arm pivot points. And the bumper support is the piece behind the front bumper that connects the two frame rails.

But then some people call the bumper support the "front" cross member, so I'm covering all bases here.

Anyway, semantics aside - do traction bars typically replace the front bumper support or not...??

 

not one mechanically inclined person calls the bumper support the "front" cross member

 

As I was browsing the archives looking for info on traction bars, I came upon several threads where people called the bumper support the "front cross member." Then again, I suppose most h-t members aren't exactly mechanically inclined...

But who cares, I want to know about how traction bars mount! Say I buy a set of Full-Race traction bars right now. If I go to install them, will I have to remove/discard my bumper support?

 

Most tractioin bars mount where the stock Tow hooks are. This is for 92-200 civis and 94+ integra's I believe.

But for the 93 and below integras and the 91 and lower civics the traction bar is a cross member bar also because I believe it has the mounts for the fronr motor mount also!

No, the bumper support behind the bumper does not need to be removed to install traction bars!

 

Come on guy's, even I could figure out he's talking about the "lower radiator support"

Most of the bars mount to the same threaded holes where the tiedown brackets go.

I'd say all the bar mount there but I'm sure someone would find one photo to prove me wrong.

Most of us have learned to buy traction bars for a well known company. To many horror stories to buy junk.

 

You are confused, big time. THE BUMPER SUPPORT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR CROSS MEMBER/TRACTION BAR. Thats like saying "I got a new rear sway bar, do I need to remove my rear bumper support"? A traction bar is not affected by your bumper support, not by a long shot. I thought you were supposed to be some engineering major and if so, thats SCARY.

 

I have no idea what the OP's background is.

But seeing as I'm 54y/o I've learned to read into what people are are talking about, when it's obvious they don't know what there talking about.

I work with Engineers, so I've gotten pretty good at that.