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I replaced the front Trailing arms on my EF hatch with some adjustable ones, and I noticed the new ones only use 1 hole in the lower control arm. The original trailing arm used 2 bolts, and I've seen some other kits that have a spacer and a plate that allows the ball joint to use both bolt holes.
I attached pictures of the different setups, mine is the top picture. Just want to make sure nothing will break, this car is getting a turbo.
Just a heads up that what you're referring to are the traction bar radius rods and where they bolt to the front lower control arms - the phrase 'trailing arm' is generally only used in reference to the rear trailing arms on these cars.
What type of traction bar do you have? I'd imagine the second pic would be more ideal. Did yours not come with the spacers?
i wouldnt recommend this style of mounting for the radius rod (aka strut rod, aka traction arm, not trailing arm).
it opens a degree of freedom of the main control arm able to rotate, creating more twist and stress on the bushings. it would be exacerbated more if you ran a front sway bar.
think of it also while braking and accelerating. this strut rod has a full rotation at each end, all the weight of the car pushing backwards or forward, its absolutely less strong and stiff than if it was double bolted like stock, allowing the rod to bend/bow more easily when compressed.
i cant say if it would break, or what the limit is. but for the reason of not properly constraining the control arm alone i wouldnt use it like this. but im sure the car would still drive fine.
a non-engineer clearly designed this traction bar. it may help for replacing the OEM front crossmember and allow more room for an engine swap, but its not better.
it looks like the OP's real issue is that someone probably lost a spacer and has one installed completely wrong on one side.
as shown in the first pic, its probably OK, but further from ideal than even as it was intended (second pic) being that it is in single shear. it doesnt change anything in the operation, just fatigue life.
like i said above, youll be ok, but its not good. find someone to machine an identical spacer and install it properly, or just ditch the traction bar setup completely.
Front Trailing Arm 89 Civic Spacer
