Hi Guys, I know the chance of getting flamed is high but some of you will find this a decent review.

So iv ended up purchasing another ebay item, this time it was a Traction Bar / Cross member

This was after the knowledge of my cracked cross-member that i decided to replace it and after also when i recent got a wheel alignment i the shop recommend not to drive really anywhere with it in its current condition.

After looking on the Net and seeing quiet a few different Brands of Traction Bars (as the Yanks call them)

I came across these 3.

1. ETD & K-Tuned - Identical design.
http://www.xenocron.com/etd-racing-t...ars-p-443.html

2. Innovative Mount - Best Looking design of the 3
http://www.innovativemounts.com/Prod...ductCode=59111

3. Ebay Special
Just search "CRX traction bar"


EBAY SPECIAL REVIEW

COST:
The cost of this was around $200 or so including shipping. a much as i wanted the
innovative brand traction bar, it was out of my price range once i factored in postage, and with no local supplier of these parts. net purchase it was for me.

BUILD QUALITY:
Overall I'm pretty happy with it. the tube could have been a fraction more heavier. but compared to the stock cross-member it weighs a bit less. The Kit itself seemed to be missing a few washers, but also since its sold without instructions (advertised no instructions) so i guess it ant too bad, i purchased new washers from the local depo store


The Mounting Points of the Traction Bar are identical to the tow hooks. here is some pics comparing size. a fraction smaller


INSTALLATION:
The Installation took a little bit of guess work being that it doesn't have instructions and just says professional installation is required.

The Removal of the old cross member was pretty straight forward, other than one bolt that went in to the chassis, needed to angle grind it off.

Just some pictures of the old cross member and also circled is why i replaced it!


Installing the Bar itself was quiet simple, just bolt to where the tow hooks lived.



This is where it got a bit tricky, the bolts supplied would have needed me to remove the Drive Shafts to do this, i personally didnt want to do this so i purchased a couple of shorter bolts, the clearance was good with the new bolt. and still threaded in a decent amount



Here is it fully bolted up


INITIAL THOUGHTS:
The overall installation could have been done in a evening, if they included the correct washers and slightly shorter bolts
also if i didn't have trouble with the removal of the old cross member

On the positive side once installed i was able to Adjust the arms, to a shorter length so they pulled the wheels more towards the front bumper. since i can now do this i can actually pull my passenger wheel forward off the firewall (gone from about a finger distance between the wheel and firewall to 3 fingers)

THOUGHTS AFTER ALIMENT So Just got it aligned yesterday
So far so good, the mechanic mentioned how easy it was to adjust, only complaint is if i WOT in the lower gears it has a slight jerking feeling, but in higher gears is fine.

Since the original Mounting Holes for the X-Member are now free, i think i will consider getting a Brace made to run from the original X-Member location. to strengthen the front end of the crx

BONUS:

So once the old cross member was removed and we check it out. the crack it had developed was almost more serious than i first thought. and with two of use standing on one side each we snapped it. only thing holding it together was the metal seem.