Honda Car Forum

I've been wondering if and when I should consider overhauling the
suspension on my 2001 TL. I have 112,000km on it (roughly 70,000
miles) and I sometimes feel that the ride isn't as "tight" as it was
a few years ago or as "tight" as on some of the newer cars I've driven
lately. The ride is still pretty darn good, but I feel it could be
better.

From what I know, the main components are the shocks, the springs, and
a myriad of bushings.

I'm not looking to make the ride stiffer or anything. I don't want it
stiffer. I'm just wondering what's involved and how expensive it could
be to bring it back to factory new, and how much of an improvement I
should expect.

Comments, suggestions?

--
"What, me worry?" - Alfred E. Neuman

Did you have the front stabilizer bar bushings and the rear links replaced?
That made a noticeabale difference on mine and it definitely drives better
(I had it done at 82,000 kms). I also had it done because of suspension
noises whenever I drove over speed bumps without slowing down as much as I
should have given the condition of my car's bushings. If you're near
Toronto, a good place to check your suspension is on the 401 East.

"Venture Rider" <dontbother@bogus.dom> wrote
> I've been wondering if and when I should consider overhauling the
> suspension on my 2001 TL. I have 112,000km on it (roughly 70,000
> miles) and I sometimes feel that the ride isn't as "tight" as it was
> a few years ago or as "tight" as on some of the newer cars I've driven
> lately. The ride is still pretty darn good, but I feel it could be
> better.
>
> From what I know, the main components are the shocks, the springs, and
> a myriad of bushings.
>
> I'm not looking to make the ride stiffer or anything. I don't want it
> stiffer. I'm just wondering what's involved and how expensive it could
> be to bring it back to factory new, and how much of an improvement I
> should expect.
>
> Comments, suggestions?
>
> --
> "What, me worry?" - Alfred E. Neuman

Venture Rider wrote:
> I've been wondering if and when I should consider overhauling the
> suspension on my 2001 TL. I have 112,000km on it (roughly 70,000
> miles) and I sometimes feel that the ride isn't as "tight" as it was
> a few years ago or as "tight" as on some of the newer cars I've driven
> lately. The ride is still pretty darn good, but I feel it could be
> better.
>
> From what I know, the main components are the shocks, the springs, and
> a myriad of bushings.
>
> I'm not looking to make the ride stiffer or anything. I don't want it
> stiffer. I'm just wondering what's involved and how expensive it could
> be to bring it back to factory new, and how much of an improvement I
> should expect.
>
> Comments, suggestions?
>

I'd bet with your TL's "low" mileage and young age, that just replacing
the struts would make a world of difference. They just wear out so
gradually, you don't notice. After 125K miles, maybe start looking at
ball joints & bearings & the rest, but not yet, in my opinion.

dan

Venture Rider <dontbother@bogus.dom> wrote in news:004d669c$0$13644$c3e8da3
@news.astraweb.com:

> I've been wondering if and when I should consider overhauling the
> suspension on my 2001 TL. I have 112,000km on it (roughly 70,000
> miles) and I sometimes feel that the ride isn't as "tight" as it was
> a few years ago or as "tight" as on some of the newer cars I've driven
> lately. The ride is still pretty darn good, but I feel it could be
> better.
>
> From what I know, the main components are the shocks, the springs, and
> a myriad of bushings.
>
> I'm not looking to make the ride stiffer or anything. I don't want it
> stiffer. I'm just wondering what's involved and how expensive it could
> be to bring it back to factory new, and how much of an improvement I
> should expect.
>
> Comments, suggestions?
>




At 70K miles you won't notice a dramatic improvement at all from a
suspension overhaul. Spending the $1,500 or so (that's parts alone!) to
return the suspension to factory new is a total waste of money. Do you race
your TL? No.

Your front shocks have definitely deteriorated from new, but not enough to
make much of a difference. Your rears are almost like new even now, believe
it or not.

Your OEM shocks will last close to 300K miles before really getting bad. If
you try to replace them, you'll be so shocked at the cost of OEM that
you'll go for cheaper aftermarket, which will last far less long than OEM
before failing. This means you'll eventually end up doing the job twice.
Better to leave the OEM shocks alone until they start leaking.

Your bushings are good for MANY more years. They soften fairly quickly with
age and mileage, but that will happen with new ones also. Replace them only
if the inner sleeve is starting to separate from the outer sleeve, which
you're nowhere close to experiencing at this point.

If I were you I'd put my $1,500 (or more) somewhere else.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Any idea why the front stabilizer bar bushings and the rear links were worn
out on mine at 82K kms? Were they from a bad batch or do rough roads wear
them out quicker? I know that my shocks still are fine - I wouldn't complain
if they softened up a bit.

"Tegger" <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote in news:
Xns9B87B5E6CD351tegger@208.90.168.18...
> Venture Rider <dontbother@bogus.dom> wrote in
> news:004d669c$0$13644$c3e8da3
> @news.astraweb.com:
>
>> I've been wondering if and when I should consider overhauling the
>> suspension on my 2001 TL. I have 112,000km on it (roughly 70,000
>> miles) and I sometimes feel that the ride isn't as "tight" as it was
>> a few years ago or as "tight" as on some of the newer cars I've driven
>> lately. The ride is still pretty darn good, but I feel it could be
>> better.
>>
>> From what I know, the main components are the shocks, the springs, and
>> a myriad of bushings.
>>
>> I'm not looking to make the ride stiffer or anything. I don't want it
>> stiffer. I'm just wondering what's involved and how expensive it could
>> be to bring it back to factory new, and how much of an improvement I
>> should expect.
>>
>> Comments, suggestions?
>>
>
>
>
>
> At 70K miles you won't notice a dramatic improvement at all from a
> suspension overhaul. Spending the $1,500 or so (that's parts alone!) to
> return the suspension to factory new is a total waste of money. Do you
> race
> your TL? No.
>
> Your front shocks have definitely deteriorated from new, but not enough to
> make much of a difference. Your rears are almost like new even now,
> believe
> it or not.
>
> Your OEM shocks will last close to 300K miles before really getting bad.
> If
> you try to replace them, you'll be so shocked at the cost of OEM that
> you'll go for cheaper aftermarket, which will last far less long than OEM
> before failing. This means you'll eventually end up doing the job twice.
> Better to leave the OEM shocks alone until they start leaking.
>
> Your bushings are good for MANY more years. They soften fairly quickly
> with
> age and mileage, but that will happen with new ones also. Replace them
> only
> if the inner sleeve is starting to separate from the outer sleeve, which
> you're nowhere close to experiencing at this point.
>
> If I were you I'd put my $1,500 (or more) somewhere else.
>
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

On Fri, 2 Jan 2009 22:55:56 +0000 (UTC), Tegger said:

>Venture Rider <dontbother@bogus.dom> wrote in news:004d669c$0$13644$c3e8da3
>@news.astraweb.com:
>
>> I've been wondering if and when I should consider overhauling the
>> suspension on my 2001 TL. I have 112,000km on it (roughly 70,000
>> miles) and I sometimes feel that the ride isn't as "tight" as it was
>> a few years ago or as "tight" as on some of the newer cars I've driven
>> lately. The ride is still pretty darn good, but I feel it could be
>> better.
>>
>> From what I know, the main components are the shocks, the springs, and
>> a myriad of bushings.
>>
>> I'm not looking to make the ride stiffer or anything. I don't want it
>> stiffer. I'm just wondering what's involved and how expensive it could
>> be to bring it back to factory new, and how much of an improvement I
>> should expect.
>>
>> Comments, suggestions?
>>
>
>
>
>
>At 70K miles you won't notice a dramatic improvement at all from a
>suspension overhaul. Spending the $1,500 or so (that's parts alone!) to
>return the suspension to factory new is a total waste of money. Do you race
>your TL? No.
>
>Your front shocks have definitely deteriorated from new, but not enough to
>make much of a difference. Your rears are almost like new even now, believe
>it or not.
>
>Your OEM shocks will last close to 300K miles before really getting bad. If
>you try to replace them, you'll be so shocked at the cost of OEM that
>you'll go for cheaper aftermarket, which will last far less long than OEM
>before failing. This means you'll eventually end up doing the job twice.
>Better to leave the OEM shocks alone until they start leaking.
>
>Your bushings are good for MANY more years. They soften fairly quickly with
>age and mileage, but that will happen with new ones also. Replace them only
>if the inner sleeve is starting to separate from the outer sleeve, which
>you're nowhere close to experiencing at this point.
>
>If I were you I'd put my $1,500 (or more) somewhere else.

Thanks, Tegger. I've been looking at new cars lately, what with mine
being 8 years old, but it's a lot of coin for a new ride (328i
perhaps). I was just thinking of improvements I could make to my TL
should I decide to keep it. After all, it has absolutely no rust
(thanks, Krown), a new timing belt / water pump, and a new
transmission (thanks, Honda). My car is probably good for a few more
years ;-)

Cheers, and a great new year to all!

--
"What, me worry?" - Alfred E. Neuman

"Ghislain" <ghislaing@teksavvyDOTcom> wrote in
news:ad5dc$495ef1da$d8bb6a66$28961@TEKSAVVY.COM:

> Any idea why the front stabilizer bar bushings and the rear links were
> worn out on mine at 82K kms?



There's a TSB out on the rear links, and "new and improved" parts
available. This suggests the old ones were inadequate.

I find no mention of problems with the front stabilizer bar bushings, so
I'm not sure what was going on there.



> Were they from a bad batch or do rough
> roads wear them out quicker?



Rough roads are really tough on suspension parts. It's entirely possible
your fronts simply got beat to death.

Front suspension parts have a far more punishing job to do than their
counterparts at the rear.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

That explains why the rear links had to be replaced (at my expense). The
front stabilizer bar bushings were worn out to the point where I could hear
noises when going over rough pavement at a slow pace. Replacing them got rid
of the noises and it definitely improved tracking over rough pavement, i.e.,
less steering corrections required.

"Tegger" <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote in news:
Xns9B8ADD8032AB3tegger@208.90.168.18...
> "Ghislain" <ghislaing@teksavvyDOTcom> wrote in
> news:ad5dc$495ef1da$d8bb6a66$28961@TEKSAVVY.COM:
>
>> Any idea why the front stabilizer bar bushings and the rear links were
>> worn out on mine at 82K kms?
>
>
>
> There's a TSB out on the rear links, and "new and improved" parts
> available. This suggests the old ones were inadequate.
>
> I find no mention of problems with the front stabilizer bar bushings, so
> I'm not sure what was going on there.
>
>
>
>> Were they from a bad batch or do rough
>> roads wear them out quicker?
>
>
>
> Rough roads are really tough on suspension parts. It's entirely possible
> your fronts simply got beat to death.
>
> Front suspension parts have a far more punishing job to do than their
> counterparts at the rear.
>
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/