A-SPEC Supspension...?

[flfungirl]

My husband and I were thinking of getting the OEM suspension kit on our TSX. Anyone have the a-spec? Do you like it? We found one on Ebay from an Acura Dealer for only $575 plus S.H. It's brand new and seems like a good deal. We just weren't sure how stiff the everyday ride will be. Will we be bouncing around?

[jonpfive]

I havent personally ridden in an A-Spec, but with Honda being the way they are, Im sure it will ride very close to stock. Are you trying to achieve better handling or the lowered look? If either, I would recommend something different. A man by the name of Joker on the forums has the Mugen kit ($1000 roughly) and is very pleased. You can also buy lowering springs for around $250-400, but I have never been a fan as you then retain the stock struts/shocks. Had the factory components been intended to be used with a lowered spring, they would have done so from the get.

[Noel]

As indicated above, the ride quality and feel isn't too far off from the current settings. You won't have much complains if you want something close to what you're currently getting yet slightly improving your vehicle handling.

[Joker]

A man by the name of Joker on the forums has the Mugen kit ($1000 roughly) and is very pleased.
:nod:
<--Can't say enough good things about the Mugen suspension :thumbsup:

[AlterZgo]

My husband and I were thinking of getting the OEM suspension kit on our TSX. Anyone have the a-spec? Do you like it? We found one on Ebay from an Acura Dealer for only $575 plus S.H. It's brand new and seems like a good deal. We just weren't sure how stiff the everyday ride will be. Will we be bouncing around?

The Aspec suspension is a well engineered set up that will not cause any bouncing. It will lower your car approximately 1", improve handling, reduce body sway and have close to stock ride quality.

[Euro.R]

I have the A-Spec suspension on my car and I'm very pleased with the results. My car actually dropped over an inch and handling has been significantly improved while retaining the factory ride quality. I'm anxious to install a comptech rear sway and change those crappy oem michelin tires out for some stickier rubber.

I also looked at the Mugen SS but couldn't bring myself to drop $1000 when the A-Spec was about $675 shipped to my door. I'm sure the Mugen SS is completely worth it's price after hearing numerous RSX owners rave about it, but I personally wanted to save some money.

[Noel]

Comparing Mugen vs OEM ... It's apples and oranges, period.

[LannyMCS]

My husband and I were thinking of getting the OEM suspension kit on our TSX. Anyone have the a-spec? Do you like it? We found one on Ebay from an Acura Dealer for only $575 plus S.H. It's brand new and seems like a good deal. We just weren't sure how stiff the everyday ride will be. Will we be bouncing around?

It really depends on what you're looking for. I installed the A-Spec suspension on my TSX and it has made a huge improvement in handling without much penalty in ride comfort. No bounce at all. It's stiffer, and has reduced the body roll and brake squat, but you won't have to apolagize for the ride when you bring friends in your car. It won't have a slammed look, but it did come down a little over a 1". I got mine from the same dealer on eBay that you're refering to- AofE Parts, and he was great to work with.

http://img21.exs.cx/img21/4237/ASpecRear.jpg

[Joker]

Hello, and welcome to the Club LannyM :wavey:

Joker - who likes the de-badged look :thumbsup:

[flfungirl]

Thanks for all the responses. Our main goal would be to reduce body roll. The lowering is just a bonus. I think we'll save up the $$ and make the purchase.

[LannyMCS]

Hello, and welcome to the Club LannyM :wavey:

Joker - who likes the de-badged look :thumbsup:

Thanks, your ride with the Mugen setup looks sweet as well. And in case anyone is wondering, the license plate was PS'd out, but the badges are really gone :) ......

[larchmont]

It really depends on what you're looking for. I installed the A-Spec suspension on my TSX and it has made a huge improvement in handling without much penalty in ride comfort. No bounce at all. It's stiffer, and has reduced the body roll and brake squat, but you won't have to apolagize for the ride when you bring friends in your car. It won't have a slammed look, but it did come down a little over a 1". I got mine from the same dealer on eBay that you're refering to- AofE Parts, and he was great to work with.....
Yes, welcome -- and great reply.
It tells me what I need to know, which (unfortunately) is that this ain't for me. I'm more than happy enough with the stock handling that I wouldn't want to sacrifice any ride quality to make the handling better. Although many or most car-philes would gladly take the trade-off, I'd guess that most Acura customers wouldn't. Which would show once again that Honda/Acura knew what it was doing.

Which BTW is what I've been saying about the stock tires too. Actually the situations are very analogous.

A little OT, but.....I've seen some of your great stuff "over there."
BTW my stock tires are now over 26K miles, and no great wear. I imagine they'll be more than fine for another 10K, easily, then I'll get new ones before waiting for trouble.

[LannyMCS]

Yes, welcome -- and great reply.
It tells me what I need to know, which (unfortunately) is that this ain't for me. I'm more than happy enough with the stock handling that I wouldn't want to sacrifice any ride quality to make the handling better. Although many or most car-philes would gladly take the trade-off, I'd guess that most Acura customers wouldn't. Which would show once again that Honda/Acura knew what it was doing.

Which BTW is what I've been saying about the stock tires too. Actually the situations are very analogous.

A little OT, but.....I've seen some of your great stuff "over there."
BTW my stock tires are now over 26K miles, and no great wear. I imagine they'll be more than fine for another 10K, easily, then I'll get new ones before waiting for trouble.

Thanks for the welcome!

The handling in stock form is really good; just look at all the accolades this car has received in the last year. The awesome handling is always mentioned. I wanted to take the handling a little further (my last car was an S2K), but I needed to keep the ride quality at a comfortable level. So, Konis/Prokits ans coilovers were not an option. The A-Spec setup was exacly what I was looking for, kinda like the Sport Package option that BWM or Audi does. Most of those cars don't come through with the Sport Package either, so they all know what they're doing by making it optional.

[Joker]

Thanks, your ride with the Mugen setup looks sweet as well.
Thanks Lanny :D

[larchmont]

......my last car was an S2K.....
Well, in that case I can sure understand!! :bowdown1:


BTW moving to the TSX (stock) how much of a sacrifice was there in power and handling?

[Noel]

BTW moving to the TSX (stock) how much of a sacrifice was there in power and handling?

Apples and Oranges if you ask me, even when both are heavily modified the line cannot be drawn close or matched. However, both have different design principals and performance specifications.

[larchmont]

:mad: I was asking Lanny! :mad:


When you move from an S2000 to a TSX, these are some things that you "might" notice, and I'm interested to hear his take on it.

[Noel]

I can't answer? http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif

BTW, if you don't know. I also have an S2K. :p

[larchmont]

I can't answer? http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif

BTW, if you don't know. I also have an S2K. :p
:bowdown1: :bowdown: :bowdown1:

Yes indeed.

But not if you're gonna squelch the discussion. :lol:

Larchmont, who knows that Lanny can't be squelched. :D

[Noel]

Then, I won't comment for now ... Until further notice. ;)

[LannyMCS]

Well, in that case I can sure understand!! :bowdown1:


BTW moving to the TSX (stock) how much of a sacrifice was there in power and handling?

Well, let me start by saying that I've always had a thing for Honda. The way that everything is so smooth; the controls, the shifter, the various doors, they all just glide like they're coated in butter. The handling is always great, even from the factory, and great ride, too. And the motors; I just love the sound and feel of a VTEC engagement. And I love high redlines. I've had an Integra GSR, a 4th and 5th gen Lude, and the S2K, among others.

My wife and I had our first child last year, and I had to make a hard choice. I could have kept the S2K, but I knew that it would hardly get used. It already sat 5 months out of year as it was, what with New England winters, and it would have been a while(like 4 years?) before my daughter could go out in, so I figured I'll sell it, get a decent family car, and replace that when Maddie is a little older.

So, in my search for a sedan, I was looking for all the qualities that I love in my past Hondas. I looked at the Accord V6-no manual. The TL's torque steer and sloppy handling did it in. The STi and Evo are much more in line performance wise with the S2K, but both are really too high-strung to be family cars, and I was looking for some luxury too. I did like the RX8, but it's not quite practical/roomy enough. All the European brands I looked at didn't come close from a value standpoint, and their reliabilty is always a gamble, so in the end, the TSX was my only choice.

Now, I guess it's fair to say that from a handling standpoint, I've taken a step backwards, and it was initially hard to get over the S2K, but the TSX has some of the S2K spirit. The TSX is well balanced, has a great motor that is much more useful around town, but still retains the high RPM, fun to rev character, and one of the best transmissions going. It's a car that can be a blast to drive without resorting to a go-cart type ride. That's why I decided on the A-Spec suspension-it's so much more refined than aftermarket lowering springs or coilovers. I've had many people ride in and drive my car, and I've only gotten positive response on both ride and handling.

The S2K is quite a bit faster, but you really had to work to get the S2K going, as opposed to the TSX, which has much more useable low end torque (people with Legacy GTs and VW/Audi 1.8Ts raise their eyebrows at this comment :lol: ). I guess the thing about the TSX is ths: you may not win a lot of drag races, but who would really buy a car like this to drag with anyway? I've at times found myself going double the speed limit (without Maddie in the car); how much faster does it really need to be? But blasting through the gears always brings a smile to my face.

[LannyMCS]

Comparing Mugen vs OEM ... It's apples and oranges, period.

As far a the Mugen goes; I would not say that comparing the A-Spec with Mugen is apples to oranges at all. They're both complete units-struts and springs- that lower the car around 1", increase the spring rate a bit, and are designed specifically for the car. The A-Spec even goes one step further-there are two versions, one for 6MT, one for 5AT, because of the weight difference. To me, that's tuning. The only other difference is that the Mugen uses a little stiffer spring rate. I have never been in a TSX with the Mugen setup, but a friend of mine had the Mugen SS in his 5th gen Lude. It was a nice upgrade to what was already a great handling car. Ride quality has harsher than my TSX A-Spec; just a bit firmer than what I would want, but not over the top. The A-Spec is dialed back to the next step down; it retains most of the factory ride quality while eliminating a lot of the roll and squat of the factory setup. If the roads are bad or ride quality matters, A-Spec is a great choice. If I had mostly smooth roads, I might have given the Mugen SS a try.

These are the only two complete strut/springs I've seen; I guess Bilstein has one out as well. Of cousrse, there's lots of coilover setups as well, but they're using spring rates that are double what A-Spec is doing-that's a whole 'nother ballgame.

[Noel]

I'll wait to Greg to chime in before I make my impressions, I've seen and driven on 2 of the following. But I personally don't run neither in my own.

[Joker]

I'll wait to Greg to chime in before I make my impressions
I am 100% bias towards the Mugen set up ;) :D

[gbrandt19]

i was on ebay and the seller says in in description that the springs are designed for manual transmission. is this true?

dosent make sense to me. never heard of manual and auto having different suspension

[LannyMCS]

i was on ebay and the seller says in in description that the springs are designed for manual transmission. is this true?

dosent make sense to me. never heard of manual and auto having different suspension

There are two different part #s for the A-Spec kit-one for the 6MT and one for the 5AT. As there is a difference in weight, they make slight changes in the spring rates. This just goes to show the work that Honda put into tuning this system-contrast that with most aftermarket setups that are designed to work on entire series of cars-from 4cyl Accords to 6cyl TLs.....not really tuned at all.

But would it physically bolt on? Yes.

[jprovostla]

Great thread... I'm also considering improving the handling/lowering 1" my TSX...
I'm undecided between the A-spec @ $600 [spring rate???] and the TEIN basic coilovers @ $750 [560/340 lbs/inch spring rate: too hard???]... I can't find the OE spring rates anywhere for comparison...
Does anyone know the OE spring rates of the TSX 5AT???
I'm looking for better handling & lowering about 1-1.5" and I'll probably add a anti-roll bar [comptech]...
I did this once before on an Integra by installing a Jackson Racing Mulholland level 3 suspension kit [Tokico springs, shocks & anti-roll bars] that was 20% stiffer than OE and lowered the car approx. 1"... what a ride!!! but of course it had been perfectly tuned by Oscar Jackson...

Thanx, Jacques
87 Integra LS 5MT w/ Jackson Racing suspension kit, sold
90 Integra GS 5MT, stock, RIP
92 Integra GSR 5MT, stolen
04 Artic Blue/black TSX, 5AT

[LannyMCS]

Great thread... I'm also considering improving the handling/lowering 1" my TSX...
I'm undecided between the A-spec @ $600 [spring rate???] and the TEIN basic coilovers @ $750 [560/340 lbs/inch spring rate: too hard???]... I can't find the OE spring rates anywhere for comparison...
Does anyone know the OE spring rates of the TSX 5AT???
I'm looking for better handling & lowering about 1-1.5" and I'll probably add a anti-roll bar [comptech]...
I did this once before on an Integra by installing a Jackson Racing Mulholland level 3 suspension kit [Tokico springs, shocks & anti-roll bars] that was 20% stiffer than OE and lowered the car approx. 1"... what a ride!!! but of course it had been perfectly tuned by Oscar Jackson...

I have never seen factory spring rates published, but I do know that Comptech was originally using about 315 lb/in f and 160 lb/in r for their 110-155 spring set. They told me that they had a 10-15% stiffness increase over stock. That puts the stock set around 280 lb/in f and 140 lb/in r. A-spec is 10% over stock, so right under the Comptech 110-155 springs.

Are the Teins too stiff? Only you can answer that. Is the a-spec too soft? Same thing. There are people that are happy with the Teins, although most of them seem to be from places where the roads are generally smooth. I always try to mention how many potholes and cracks that we have to deal with here in New England. That's a lot of the reason I went with the a-spec.

One thing that is true about the a-spec is that it still leaves some wheel gap. If you want to eliminate gap you should probably think about coilovers; maybe the H&Rs. My guess would be Hawaiian roads are probably pretty good unless there's lava rocks in the way :D...........

[Euro.R]

the roads really suck here, may as well be hitting lava rocks while dodging volcanic crater-like potholes!

[tekn0mage]

Nice to see a bunch of fellow 808 cruisers around here. I just scored my 2005 Black on Black TSX 6 speed this weekend. I am freakin lovin' it. Before I took it home, I made sure to slap some A-Spec suspension love on it. A great deal from the boys at Pflueger Acura, and a day's wait later I am stoked.

I never drove the 6 speed manual without the suspension, so I can't really comment on the before/after aspects. I do know that driving down the H-1 now just takes a slight turn of the wheel to make even the tightest turns. I absolutely love the A-Spec suspension.

I traded in my silver 02 RSX-S to get my TSX. I am sacrificing a lot of "go" for a whole lot of "show". Overall, I am very happy for the A-Spec kit, as it allows the transition to be a lot more manageable. A stylish ride with a lot of pep...what's not to love?

Aloha!

[lunner]

Rasied from the dead!

I droved my 6MT/TSX for a while before getting the A-Spec package. When I picked up my car, right the way, I feel tighter handling. The car seems to acclerate a bit better?? LOL Or may be because I was an crappy handling stock auto/05/TL for a whole day before picking my car up, I don't know???

[Joker]

Hello, congrats, and welcome to the Club tekn0mage :wavey:

[nachob]

LannyM, I also saw the guy on ebay and I'm interested in the sport kit. I don't want to give up much on ride quality, I'm and old guy but I want a little firmer, sportier ride. It sounds like you are happy with your kit. Can you carry a couple of people in the back without it bottoming out? Also, the picture you put on the this thread is great, beatiful car. I was wondering if you could do a side view so I can see how low it goes compared to stock.

Thank you.

Ignacio

[Andynolife]

LannyM, I also saw the guy on ebay and I'm interested in the sport kit. I don't want to give up much on ride quality, I'm and old guy but I want a little firmer, sportier ride. It sounds like you are happy with your kit. Can you carry a couple of people in the back without it bottoming out? Also, the picture you put on the this thread is great, beatiful car. I was wondering if you could do a side view so I can see how low it goes compared to stock.

Thank you.

Ignacio
i dont think u will buttoming out with A-Spec ..
i got like 1.7" droped with the prokit and have no problem with 5 ppl include me + 2 luggages

[LannyMCS]

LannyM, I also saw the guy on ebay and I'm interested in the sport kit. I don't want to give up much on ride quality, I'm and old guy but I want a little firmer, sportier ride. It sounds like you are happy with your kit. Can you carry a couple of people in the back without it bottoming out? Also, the picture you put on the this thread is great, beatiful car. I was wondering if you could do a side view so I can see how low it goes compared to stock.

Thank you.

Ignacio

Ride quality is close to factory. A little firmer and sportier, less body roll are all good ways to describe it. Absolutely no chance of rubbing front or rear, even fully loaded. When you say bottoming out, I think of fully compressing the strut and hitting the bump stop, which most cars will do if you hit a big enough bump. I have never done it, but I can't say it wouldn't happen. It's probably less likely with the stiffer springs.

Here's a few more pics. The drop is, in my case anyway, just over 1". The wheel gap at the top is now less than the wheel gap at the front or rear of the wheelwell, which is not the case with the factory setup, so it looses the "lifted" look. It does not look "slammed" though. If lowering is really important to you, you should explore other options.

http://img132.exs.cx/img132/1987/sideshot8ep.jpg

Front:

http://img179.exs.cx/img179/850/front0uc.jpg

Back:

http://img179.exs.cx/img179/8517/back2tr.jpg

[TSX Cman]

BTW my stock tires are now over 26K miles, and no great wear. I imagine they'll be more than fine for another 10K, easily, then I'll get new ones before waiting for trouble.
wow. i have 20K Kilometers on my tsx and the tires are worn out of shape completely. driving on ice makes me float all over the place. i replaced them with blizzaks and have never been happier about the grip, for the winter atleast. i kept the old rubber incase i ever need some shitty tires to beat on, who knows what for. but i am getting new rims and rubber. bottem line is, only 20K kilometers here and im worn completely. maybe driving styles

[Joker]

Looks great Lanny, thanks for sharing!! :thumbsup:

[nachob]

Lanny thank you for your info and pics. No, I'm not into lowering per se, I'm into function over looks. I like good handling cars. I also wanted to to give you a big thumbs up. I read about you having one kid and looking for a nice sedan. Same thing here. I have a two year old that I've been hauling in the extra-cab of my Toyota 4x4. Got tired of that, then I saw the TL drive by. I went into the dealership to look at the TL and got into a TSX thinking it was the TL by mistake. Since I had never seen either, I decided to drive the TL. Like you, I was impressed by the TL's power but shocked at how poorly the suspension is set up to cope with so much power. The TL wallows and torque steers and you have to watch the RPMs or you stall. Then I drove the TSX. At first it seemed underpowered but it was such a fantastic all-around kid-hauler-with-style and they had a manual! I tried the Accord then, as you said, no manual box on the 6 speed. So finally, I ordered mine. I felt like a freak because everyone raved about the TL but I was dissapointed in the handling. Then everyone told me Carbon Gray was the color but I wanted a Red one with 6 speed and ebony interior. The salesman basically told me I was an idiot because I would have no resale value since no one in the world would want a red TSX and worse yet, who drives manuals anymore. Anyway, it's good to see there are few manual guys left.
PS, I've decided after reading your comments to add the suspension package. I didn't know that they took into account the weight difference between the non-MANual cars and the MANuals ..Just kidding AT guys, some of my best friends drive automatics too!

[lunner]

You not an idiot nachob. I also prefer the TSX over the TL.

[larchmont]

......and count me too. :nod:

Without a doubt.

[AlterZgo]

I got a Milano Red TSX. I'm not too worried about resale value. Red is such a rare color that it was hard to find one actually for sale. I'm sure when it comes time to sell, there would be people out there looking for a red one - just like myself.

Carbon Gray may be more easily sold. But, for myself, that color is bland and doesn't do anything for me. If I'm going to spend about $30K, it's going to be for something I want, rather than for something I think someone else may want years later when I'm ready to sell.

Same goes for auto vs. manual. My last 2 cars have been manual because I enjoy driving stick - even in the heavy Los Angeles traffic. I'd rather drive a stick shift and lose a bit of money on resale than drive an automatic and lose out on years of driving enjoyment. That said, when I got my TSX, I had to buy an automatic so my wife could drive it and because I've been stranded a few times over the years after spraining my ankle or knee playing sports. I kept my old car so I could still enjoy driving a stick shift.

[LannyMCS]

when I got my TSX, I had to buy an automatic so my wife could drive it and because I've been stranded a few times over the years after spraining my ankle or knee playing sports. I kept my old car so I could still enjoy driving a stick shift.

When I got my TSX, I got the 6MT so my wife couldn't drive it :D.

They did a great job with the 5AT though. And this week, I had an ingrown toenail removed from my big toe on my left foot. :( A 5AT sure would have come in handy!

[LannyMCS]

Lanny thank you for your info and pics. No, I'm not into lowering per se, I'm into function over looks. I like good handling cars. I also wanted to to give you a big thumbs up. I read about you having one kid and looking for a nice sedan. Same thing here. I have a two year old that I've been hauling in the extra-cab of my Toyota 4x4. Got tired of that, then I saw the TL drive by. I went into the dealership to look at the TL and got into a TSX thinking it was the TL by mistake. Since I had never seen either, I decided to drive the TL. Like you, I was impressed by the TL's power but shocked at how poorly the suspension is set up to cope with so much power. The TL wallows and torque steers and you have to watch the RPMs or you stall. Then I drove the TSX. At first it seemed underpowered but it was such a fantastic all-around kid-hauler-with-style and they had a manual! I tried the Accord then, as you said, no manual box on the 6 speed. So finally, I ordered mine. I felt like a freak because everyone raved about the TL but I was dissapointed in the handling. Then everyone told me Carbon Gray was the color but I wanted a Red one with 6 speed and ebony interior. The salesman basically told me I was an idiot because I would have no resale value since no one in the world would want a red TSX and worse yet, who drives manuals anymore. Anyway, it's good to see there are few manual guys left.
PS, I've decided after reading your comments to add the suspension package. I didn't know that they took into account the weight difference between the non-MANual cars and the MANuals ..Just kidding AT guys, some of my best friends drive automatics too!


Thanks, my daughter is now forward facing in her car seat and enjoys the TSX even more!

[AlterZgo]

When I got my TSX, I got the 6MT so my wife couldn't drive it :D.

They did a great job with the 5AT though. And this week, I had an ingrown toenail removed from my big toe on my left foot. :( A 5AT sure would have come in handy!

LOL. My wife is usually scared to drive my car.

You know, I'm in my mid 30s and still consider myself pretty young, but I do find myself getting injured more often. I guess I need to cut back on the mtn biking, basketball, racquetball, etc. About a year ago, I had to drive my last car with a badly sprained left ankle. It was not fun at all. Of course, driving an automatic TSX on a daily basis isn't exactly all that thrilling either. I can feel that it's really a great car being held back by the automatic.

[TodaSi]

Thanks, my daughter is now forward facing in her car seat and enjoys the TSX even more!

Hey, my daughter is forward facing now too. One of the main reasons for getting the TSX is the baby and 4 doors, second was sportiness and last was comfort and luxury. The TSX fits the bill in all respects and is by far the best bang for the buck!

[LannyMCS]

Hey, my daughter is forward facing now too. One of the main reasons for getting the TSX is the baby and 4 doors, second was sportiness and last was comfort and luxury. The TSX fits the bill in all respects and is by far the best bang for the buck!

Yeah, all of that and Honda reliability/safety too!

[Drunkenbuda]

I just asked a dealer close to home and they said they can't sell the a-spec suspension without selling the whole package. WTF! I just want the suspension. Ebay?

[TodaSi]

Heck yah ebay, your dealer sounds lazy.

[AlterZgo]

I just asked a dealer close to home and they said they can't sell the a-spec suspension without selling the whole package. WTF! I just want the suspension. Ebay?

Many dealers are misinformed. You can buy the A-spec suspension by itself, the rims by itself, etc. Just go through Acura of Escondido on E-bay. Their price is likely better than what your local dealer would do and they have a near perfect seller rating.

[Drunkenbuda]

Many dealers are misinformed. You can buy the A-spec suspension by itself, the rims by itself, etc. Just go through Acura of Escondido on E-bay. Their price is likely better than what your local dealer would do and they have a near perfect seller rating.



So wut do you get with the a-spec suspension? Springs and Camber kits?

[Drunkenbuda]

Okay, never mind. I answered my own question.

[AlterZgo]

You get the complete spring and shock assembly including upper mounts, bump stops, dust boots, etc. It does NOT come with a camber kit. You can either run it w/o a camber kit as all Acura dealers do or you can get an aftermkt kit for pretty cheap.

[virtualbong]

I read in this post that the A-Spec suspension is set specifically to whether or not you have a manual or an automatic, so does that mean that the A-Spec setup for a manual TSX will not perform "correctly" if switched to an automatic TSX? Please advise.

[TSX Cman]

what happens if you only buy the springs? i didnt notice the shock assembly?

[TSX Cman]

and same as virtual bong, i was gonna buy someones auto springs for my manual but i held back

[LannyMCS]

what happens if you only buy the springs? i didnt notice the shock assembly?

You can't get the springs by themselves; it comes as a complete kit-struts and springs pre-assembled.

[LannyMCS]

I read in this post that the A-Spec suspension is set specifically to whether or not you have a manual or an automatic, so does that mean that the A-Spec setup for a manual TSX will not perform "correctly" if switched to an automatic TSX? Please advise.

I don't know if one could say that it would not perform "correctly". No aftermarket spring manufacturer or coilover company goes so far as to "tune" the suspension based upon a 100lb weight difference from the transmission.

When they did the A-spec tuning, they spec'd a little more spring rate for the 5AT, becuase it weighs a little more.

So, using a 6MT kit in a 5AT would result in two things; slightly more drop, and a little bit softer ride. The differences are not enough that you would need to worry about bottoming out the car; no more so than I have to worry about it when I have a couple of two hundred pound dudes in my ride.

Going the other way, a 5AT kit in a 6MT would be slightly less drop, and a little bit stiffer ride.

[virtualbong]

I don't know if one could say that it would not perform "correctly". No aftermarket spring manufacturer or coilover company goes so far as to "tune" the suspension based upon a 100lb weight difference from the transmission.

When they did the A-spec tuning, they spec'd a little more spring rate for the 5AT, becuase it weighs a little more.

So, using a 6MT kit in a 5AT would result in two things; slightly more drop, and a little bit softer ride. The differences are not enough that you would need to worry about bottoming out the car; no more so than I have to worry about it when I have a couple of two hundred pound dudes in my ride.

Going the other way, a 5AT kit in a 6MT would be slightly less drop, and a little bit stiffer ride.

Interesting...this actually could work in my favor than because I'd rather have the drop just a little bit lower than how it looks on the pics I've seen, but not as low as the Eibachs (Northeast can be a biznatch in the winter). LannyM this deal may happen. March right?

[TSX Cman]

oh i was offered to buy the a spec springs because the guy replaced his after a few months with lower dropped eibachs. and he mustve kept the shocks.. $200 US for springs

[Hispanic208]

Will I survive here in the north east with the A-Spec suspension and the oem body kit? Will the car be too low that it will bottom out with heavy load or scrape more easily? thanks.

[virtualbong]

Will I survive here in the north east with the A-Spec suspension and the oem body kit? Will the car be too low that it will bottom out with heavy load or scrape more easily? thanks.

I'm in the same situation as you are. I don't have the TSX yet, but I purchased the OEM Kit already and I'm looking into getting my car lowered. I did a lot of research and from what I've gathered, you'd be fine with the A-Spec drop. Its a mild 1-1.25" drop, which gives you enough room even with the body kit. I also know of someone who has the Eibach Drop (1.6F,1.4R) and he lives in Massachusetts. You can PM him, his username is jiggaman.

[TSX Cman]

guys i dont think the aspec setup would cause you any problem in any way your thinking. you would ever load your car so much that it bottems out on speed bumps or anything.

i have aproblem cuz i live in calgary and we have so many inclines and declines that ive scraped the nose of the kit a little but its quite flexible and i havnt caused too much damage yet.

[formulab]

i have a dumb question

will i still need a camber kit or whatever springs if i instal the a-spec suspension??

what would be the best source for me to to purchase the a-spec suspension if i m in vancouver, BC ??

[AlterZgo]

If you have your local Acura dealer install the A-spec suspension, there is no way they would install a camber kit b/c the only ones available are aftermarket.

BUT, the problem is, even w/ the mild drop of the A-spec kit, it is likely that your camber will be out of spec. There is really no way to adjust the camber w/o an aftermarket camber kit. They can only equalize the left and right side camber by adjusting the carriage.

Personally, I would install a rear camber kit.

[formulab]

how does the rear camber kit help the car?

is it necessary to install it if i already have a-spec installed?

[formulab]

btw, any BC or Canadian drivers here??

where should i pruchase the a-spec suspension from??

Acura of Escondido from ebay is good?

[LannyMCS]

If you have your local Acura dealer install the A-spec suspension, there is no way they would install a camber kit b/c the only ones available are aftermarket.

BUT, the problem is, even w/ the mild drop of the A-spec kit, it is likely that your camber will be out of spec. There is really no way to adjust the camber w/o an aftermarket camber kit. They can only equalize the left and right side camber by adjusting the carriage.

Personally, I would install a rear camber kit.

When my dealer did the alignment, it was way out of whack on one side, not bad on the other. The tech suggested that I get a camber kit and said he'd put it on, or he would try realigning the carriage. I decided to try just the carriage method, and it got me close enough that I was satisfied.

Now that I'm going with Tein Flex, I've ordered the Ingalls rear kit.

[LannyMCS]

how does the rear camber kit help the car?

is it necessary to install it if i already have a-spec installed?

If you lower the car, your rear camber will be out of factory spec. Some cars are out of factory spec even without lowering. Max allowed is -1.5 degrees, with lowering you will be closer to -2.0 or more.

Some people like a little extra negative rear camber, some do not. It will wear your inner rear tires faster, especially with softer rubber.

If you already have A-Spec installed, what were your alignment specs?



btw, any BC or Canadian drivers here??

where should i pruchase the a-spec suspension from??

Acura of Escondido from ebay is good?

Wait a minute, I thought you already had it installed?

In any event, Acura of Escondido is great, and I've read that they will ship to Canada.

[formulab]

i was just saying "if" .....sorry for the misunderstanding

so if i want to save the tires then i SHOULDN't install the camber kit?

once the a-spec is installed, what more parts can i install to let the tires last longer or to improve ride quality?

[LannyMCS]

i was just saying "if" .....sorry for the misunderstanding

so if i want to save the tires then i SHOULDN't install the camber kit?

once the a-spec is installed, what more parts can i install to let the tires last longer or to improve ride quality?

If you want to maximize tire life, then get a rear camber kit, and make sure that you get a proper alignment, keeping rear camber around -1.0 degrees, and toe at as close to 0.00mm as possible.

Ride comfort is still excellent with A-Spec, not at all stiff.

[formulab]

thank u Lanny and alterZgo for answering all my quesitons..

so Ingalls Rear Camber Kit would be a good choice??

is it ok to purchase it from ebay?? which seller is reliable?

[LannyMCS]

thank u Lanny and alterZgo for answering all my quesitons..

so Ingalls Rear Camber Kit would be a good choice??

is it ok to purchase it from ebay?? which seller is reliable?

UltraRev, which is a board sponsor, carries the Ingalls kit. The Ingalls kit is currently on backorder from the manufacturer, they're supposed to get kits rolling out to the dealers sometime after the 18th of March, so unless you can find a dealer that has them in stock, you'll have to wait a little bit.

The only ones I've seen on eBay lately are SPC and Eibach, which is made by SPC. Comptech uses SPC too. There's a few issue with the SPC that made me choose Ingalls; SPC seals cracking and leaking grease, rusting, and various noises (not that my coilovers are gonna be quiet :D)......they can be resolved with a quick coat of paint and using your factory seals, but I'd rather wait a little for the Ingalls.......

[TSXTuner]

maybe suspensiongeek.com still has them

[nachob]

Lanny, I'm really surprised Honda didn't think about camber changing on the rear when dropping the car with an OEM upgrade kit.

I also thought the purpose of the double wishbone multi-link suspension used was because it has almost no camber change

I haven't looked at depth at my TSX rear suspension but it multi-links are basically slightly different double-wishbone setusp. On these, as the suspension travels up, the upper arm pushes the spindle out enough to keep the wheel perpendicular and almost no camber change. You get some scrub, which is where the wheel will actually move in or out a bit due to the Arc of in the travel of the arms. I'm surprised about that. Maybe hond tried to add a little toe out when the suspension is compressed, but it seems unlikely. Here is a good link to what I'm talking about:

Suspension Info (http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/suspension/tech_suspension2.htm#DW)

I wonder if anyone can confirm tha camber change with A-Apec kit? Lanny is always right on on the money.

Thanks.

Ignacio

[LannyMCS]

Lanny, I'm really surprised Honda didn't think about camber changing on the rear when dropping the car with an OEM upgrade kit.

I also thought the purpose of the double wishbone multi-link suspension used was because it has almost no camber change

I haven't looked at depth at my TSX rear suspension but it multi-links are basically slightly different double-wishbone setusp. On these, as the suspension travels up, the upper arm pushes the spindle out enough to keep the wheel perpendicular and almost no camber change. You get some scrub, which is where the wheel will actually move in or out a bit due to the Arc of in the travel of the arms. I'm surprised about that. Maybe hond tried to add a little toe out when the suspension is compressed, but it seems unlikely. Here is a good link to what I'm talking about:

Suspension Info (http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/suspension/tech_suspension2.htm#DW)

I wonder if anyone can confirm tha camber change with A-Apec kit? Lanny is always right on on the money.

Thanks.

Ignacio

The rear suspension is a multi link, not really a double wishbone. As the suspension compresses, the lower link pushes the bottom of the tire out, creating more negative camber. It's designed to do that under cornering, but shouldn't necessarily be like that all the time. When you lower the rear, it's like that all the time.

[formulab]

What should i say to the tech before i hand him the a-spec suspension and the rear camber kits?

[LI_NY_1]

I just ordered the a-spec susp from AofE. I have not as yet planned on getting a rear camber kit but after reading this thread I might want to add it on.
Does the camber kit require any add'l maintenance and would "regular" shops and the dealer still do an alignment after it is installed?
Thanks for the good info here.

[virtualbong]

I just ordered the a-spec susp from AofE. I have not as yet planned on getting a rear camber kit but after reading this thread I might want to add it on.
Does the camber kit require any add'l maintenance and would "regular" shops and the dealer still do an alignment after it is installed?
Thanks for the good info here.

From what I've read in my research the camber kit if you purchase the Rear Ingalls Camber Kit is just a plug and play kinda deal. And supposedly any suspension shop should know how to fix the negative camber. You just have to remember to mention how low you went and stuff before you get your car aligned. Please correct me if I'm wrong people.

[TodaSi]

People one thing to not forget is to be sitting in your car when you get it aligned....or have them put weight in the car.

[pocketkiller]

why is that? Acura doesn't align the new TSX with somebody in the car.

[LannyMCS]

What should i say to the tech before i hand him the a-spec suspension and the rear camber kits?

Say "if you screw up my car you will suffer" :nono:

J/K......

Both the A-spec kit and the Ingalls kit come with instructions; any competent shop should handle this job very easily; the only thing that's a little tricky is setting toe and camber with the kit, but the instructions will explain it.

You may want to bring a copy of the factory specs for alignment, but again, a good shop should have it.......

[LannyMCS]

I just ordered the a-spec susp from AofE. I have not as yet planned on getting a rear camber kit but after reading this thread I might want to add it on.
Does the camber kit require any add'l maintenance and would "regular" shops and the dealer still do an alignment after it is installed?
Thanks for the good info here.

Camber kit is fairly easy, no special tools required. There are a couple of extra steps in the alignment process, but no big deal. My dealer actually suggesting getting one after the A-spec.......

Ingalls TSX install instructions (http://www.ingallseng.com/Instructions/38725.pdf)

[LI_NY_1]

Forgive the newbie question and the hijacking of thread...

Is the rear camber kit something that would make sense to do at the same time as the a-spec susp. and the rear sway?

[jonpfive]

why is that? Acura doesn't align the new TSX with somebody in the car.

I agree, you would then have to consider the changes that take place with passengers in the car. Unless of course you are setting up for the track, then by all means take the time to set the car up for optimum balance w/ driver. For street use though, not necessary.

[LannyMCS]

Forgive the newbie question and the hijacking of thread...

Is the rear camber kit something that would make sense to do at the same time as the a-spec susp. and the rear sway?

After running the A-Spec with no camber kit for several months, I would make the following observations:

1.) With stock tires, no uneven tire wear. However, with soft after-market tires I would think you would see inside wear.

2.) I was able to align to -1.85 rear camber on each side. At -2.0 or more I would have gotten one. I've seen stock TSXs running -2.0 on one side.......

3.) The topic of over-steer or lift throttle over-steer has been brought up in relation to a thicker rear sway; if you're concerned about that than more negative rear camber will help keep you tail where it belongs.....

[LI_NY_1]

:

3.) The topic of over-steer or lift throttle over-steer has been brought up in relation to a thicker rear sway; if you're concerned about that than more negative rear camber will help keep you tail where it belongs.....

Hmmm. I think my wife would like the fact of keeping my tail where it belongs, so:
a-spec yes.
rear camber kit no (for now)
Cool. Thanks again!!! 1blue1.gif 1blue1.gif

[jprovostla]

I have never seen factory spring rates published, but I do know that Comptech was originally using about 315 lb/in f and 160 lb/in r for their 110-155 spring set. They told me that they had a 10-15% stiffness increase over stock. That puts the stock set around 280 lb/in f and 140 lb/in r. A-spec is 10% over stock, so right under the Comptech 110-155 springs.

Are the Teins too stiff? Only you can answer that. Is the a-spec too soft? Same thing. There are people that are happy with the Teins, although most of them seem to be from places where the roads are generally smooth. I always try to mention how many potholes and cracks that we have to deal with here in New England. That's a lot of the reason I went with the a-spec.

One thing that is true about the a-spec is that it still leaves some wheel gap. If you want to eliminate gap you should probably think about coilovers; maybe the H&Rs. My guess would be Hawaiian roads are probably pretty good unless there's lava rocks in the way :D...........

Thanx, LannyM
The roads are pretty bad here... narrow and full of potholes... so I'm a little worried about upgrading to a stiff suspension... I think I'll start with the Aspec...