Throwback Strut Bars for Civic and Integra: Front vs Rear Guide
By PRL Motorsports - Premium Automotive Performance Products | Published: 2026-11-05
Category: 購入ガイド
Choose the right PRL Motorsports Throwback strut bar for your Civic or Integra by matching front or rear bracing to your chassis, trim, and driving goals.
Quick answer
For most 2022+ Civic and 2023+ Integra owners, start with the rear bar if you want to tighten the back end without touching the engine bay, and add the front bar only after confirming your trim and hood clearance. If you drive a 10th-gen Civic or FK8 Type R, the front bar is the simpler first step.
Front vs rear: what each bar changes and what it costs you
A front strut bar ties the tops of the strut towers together, adding stiffness where the suspension loads enter the chassis. A rear bar does the same at the rear shock or strut mounts, which can make the back end feel more settled during quick direction changes. Neither bar replaces proper tires, alignment, or dampers, so treat them as chassis bracing, not a handling cure-all.
The practical trade-off is access and interior space. Front bars sit in the engine bay and can interfere with hood clearance or service access on some trims. Rear bars often require trimming or removing trunk liner material, as noted in the catalog for the Throwback rear bars. Decide which compromise you can live with before ordering.
Fitment is the real decision: check your chassis and trim first
PRL lists the 2022+ Civic rear Throwback bar as fitting the 2022+ Civic Hatchback (1.5T and 2.0L), the 2023+ Civic Type R FL5, and the 2023+ Integra, but it does not fit the 2022+ Civic Si Sedan. The Integra rear bar covers the same hatchback and Type R applications plus all 2023+ Integra models. That Si exclusion is the most common surprise, so verify your body style before assuming a Civic rear bar will bolt in.
For the front, the 2016-2021 Civic front bar covers the 2017-2021 Type R FK8, the 2016-2021 10th-gen Civic (1.5T and 2.0L), the 2022+ 11th-gen Civic (1.5T and 2.0L), and the 2023+ Integra with the 1.5T only. If you have an Integra Type S or another 2.0T Integra, the catalog does not list front fitment, so do not assume it will work.
When one bar is enough, and when to plan for both
If your car is a daily driver with occasional spirited road use, a single rear bar is often the lower-effort upgrade because it avoids engine-bay clearance questions. If you already notice the front end feeling vague over mid-corner bumps, or you regularly load the car through sweeping turns, the front bar is the more direct fix for that specific sensation.
Adding both bars is reasonable once you have confirmed fitment for each. But do not buy both as a package without checking the rear trunk-liner requirement and the front hood clearance on your exact trim. The catalog does not supply bar diameter, material, or weight, so base your decision on fit and intended use rather than assumptions about stiffness.
Decision rules for choosing front or rear
- Rule 1: Match the bar to your exact chassis and trim: Check the catalog fitment list against your model year, body style, and engine. For example, the 2022+ Civic rear bar excludes the Si Sedan, and the 2016-2021 front bar covers the Integra 1.5T only. If your car is not listed, do not order that bar.
- Rule 2: Choose rear first if you want minimal engine-bay changes: A rear bar avoids front hood and service-access concerns, but you must be willing to trim or remove trunk liner material as noted in the catalog. If you are not comfortable modifying interior trim, plan for a professional install or choose a different upgrade. Confirm you can access the rear shock or strut towers before committing.
- Rule 3: Choose front first if your car is a 10th-gen Civic or FK8 Type R: The 2016-2021 front bar has broad coverage for those generations, making it a straightforward first bar. Still verify hood clearance after installation, since the catalog does not list installed height.
- Rule 4: Add the second bar only after the first fits and feels right: Install one bar, drive the car through your usual routes, and check for rattles or clearance issues before buying the second. This avoids stacking two fitment problems at once.
Product facts to compare
- 2023+ Acura Integra "Throwback" Rear Strut Bar: Fits all 2023+ Acura Integra models, including RHD and international variants, and requires trunk liner trimming or removal for optimal fitment. Integra owners get a confirmed rear fitment, but should plan for minor interior trimming before installation.
2023+ Acura Integra "Throwback" Rear Strut Bar - 2022+ Honda Civic "Throwback" Rear Strut Bar: Fits 2022+ Civic Hatchback, 2023+ Civic Type R FL5, and 2023+ Integra, but does not fit the 2022+ Civic Si Sedan. Si sedan owners should skip this bar and look for a confirmed sedan application instead of forcing hatchback fitment.
2022+ Honda Civic "Throwback" Rear Strut Bar - 2016-2021 Honda Civic "Throwback" Front Strut Bar: Fits 2016-2021 10th-gen Civic, 2022+ 11th-gen Civic, 2017-2021 Type R FK8, and 2023+ Integra 1.5T only. This front bar covers a wide range of Civics but excludes the Integra 2.0T, so engine choice determines whether it is an option.
Who should choose which bar
Best for
- 2023+ Integra owners who want a confirmed rear fitment and can trim trunk liner
- 2022+ Civic Hatchback and 2023+ Type R FL5 owners who want rear bracing without engine-bay changes
- 2016-2021 Civic and FK8 Type R owners who want a front bar with broad generation coverage
Not for
- 2022+ Civic Si Sedan owners considering the rear Throwback bar, which the catalog says does not fit
- 2023+ Integra 2.0T owners considering the front Throwback bar, which is listed for the 1.5T only
- Owners who are not willing to trim or remove trunk liner material for rear bar fitment
