Tension & Tie Rods for Honda CRX ED

Tension and tie rods are the links that hold a wheel or axle in one direction: fore and aft, side to side, or in steering. The range covers rear traction rods, traction bars, front track bars, one of them adjustable, a rear toe kit, a tie rod and a roll-centre tie rod end.

Each link stops one kind of movement. Tension and traction rods hold the wheel against forces along the car under braking and acceleration; where their rubber bushes deflect, castor and toe change. Traction bars limit wheel hop when power goes down hard, and a track bar locates a solid axle from side to side, its length deciding where the axle sits.

Steering tie rods connect the rack to the steering arm on each hub carrier. On a lowered car the tie rod and lower arm no longer swing through matching arcs, so the wheel steers itself over bumps. Roll-centre tie rod ends move the outer pivot to restore the tie rod angle, and a rear toe kit lets rear toe be set after lowering.

Choose by the link’s job:

• Movement: fore and aft for tension and traction rods and traction bars, sideways for track bars, and steering for tie rods and their ends.
• Fixed or adjustable: an adjustable track bar and the toe kit let you correct axle position or toe after a ride-height change, while a fixed link has one set length.
• Material and ends: aluminium links in silver appear in the range. The bushes or joints at each end decide how much the link can still deflect, so compare those too.
• Vehicle: most titles name the model. Links for solid-axle off-roaders and for independent suspension are different designs.

Measure the old link and preset an adjustable one to match before fitting, and tighten bushed joints with the car on its wheels. Lock every adjuster, use new self-locking nuts or split pins on steering joints, and have the alignment set afterwards. After fitting roll-centre tie rod ends, check bump steer as well as static toe.

Steering joints are safety parts. Check them for play at every service, and replace any joint with a torn boot or a knock under braking.