Snrub
Snrub Dork
11/28/24 8:56 a.m.

I recently added a traction bar to my FWD FiST. It made a huge difference in torque steer and makes the car feel much more refined. I was really surprised at the difference. I had assumed others online were reporting on a placebo effect. The bar bolts on to the front of the subframe using the existing through the lower control arm bolts.

Why don't OEMs implement a solution like this?

DeadSkunk  (Warren)
DeadSkunk (Warren) MegaDork
11/28/24 9:19 a.m.

So what's a traction bar and where does it bolt to? Picture? Link?

Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter)
Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter) UltraDork
11/28/24 9:20 a.m.

Really depends on the control arm design and how floppy they are stock. On hondas it can be huge on the vws it does amost nothing w good busings. 

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
11/28/24 9:24 a.m.
Snrub said:

Why don't OEMs implement a solution like this?

I suspect two reasons:

1. Noise, vibration, and harshness.

2. Wear issues, particularly if using spherical rod ends or metal bushings.

Snrub
Snrub Dork
11/28/24 1:46 p.m.

Here's a link to the product I installed. 

https://whooshmotorsports.com/products/whoosh-motorsports-2-point-trac-bar-2014-2019-fiesta-st-free-shipping

I don't feel like it added harshness. When you put the power down there's much less of a wrestling match. Most aftermarket modifications make a vehicle less refined - It feels like the opposite here.

Would it really impact bushings? It's bolted in and it's rigid, would it mostly affect subframe deflection? How would it wear bushings? How would it impact the floppiness of the control arms?

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltimaDork
11/28/24 2:17 p.m.
Snrub said:

Here's a link to the product I installed. 

https://whooshmotorsports.com/products/whoosh-motorsports-2-point-trac-bar-2014-2019-fiesta-st-free-shipping

I don't feel like it added harshness. When you put the power down there's much less of a wrestling match. Most aftermarket modifications make a vehicle less refined - It feels like the opposite here.

Would it really impact bushings? It's bolted in and it's rigid, would it mostly affect subframe deflection? How would it wear bushings? How would it impact the floppiness of the control arms?

Ok, I had been expecting something more like a strut rod, a bar that ties the LCA to the front of the frame with a pivot on the end. Like this, and note the spherical bearings. The one you have is a chassis brace; it seems to address a specific shortcoming with that particular K-member design rather than a universal design that could work on anything.

Snrub
Snrub Dork
11/29/24 6:56 p.m.

 Torque steer wasn't terrible on this car by FWD standards to begin with. Wouldn't a brace like this help lots of other FWD cars?

VolvoHeretic
VolvoHeretic GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
11/29/24 7:48 p.m.

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