Frenetic

I know some of you might be sick of me talking about our dang struts, but I thought I would share my thoughts since this has been an item of extreme consternation for me.

First off there is an official Honda advisory regarding our struts and "rough riding." I was shown this at the dealership and it more or less stated that upon lifting a small plastic piece could inadvertently break and become dislodged inside our struts upon full extension and degrade performance causing "4x4 riding."

I experienced this first hand a year or two ago. Things just felt different after I got a tire changed. While it wasn't 4x4ish, it was rougher.

My symptoms:
1. Generally stiffer feeling suspension.

2. Noticeable impact "thuds" over rough surfaces/large, sudden suspension movements. Not rattles or creaks mind you, but it sounded like a thump while driving over potholes. The noise didn't seem abnormal, but it was very noticeable.

3. And this one wasn't noticeable until AFTER I got my struts changed, but I drive the same route every day and have a reverse angle turn, meaning the angle of the road is opposite of the turn. The body would roll a lot towards the outside edge of the turn. Seemed normal until I got the struts changed.

4. Three of my struts were visibly leaking. I couldn't see the leak with the tires on, but I was shown the leaks on the lift with the tires off. To be honest, I didn't know there was fluid in our struts, but it was noticeable and you could tell it was not from external sources.

The differences are amazing. The thuds are all but gone. It's much more smoother and controlled over very rough surfaces and I was amazed at how much flatter the car maintained while traversing that reverse angle turn. Much more flatter.

All other suspension components checked fine, including most rubber parts except for the bump stops, which were replaced.

In any case, for people who think struts are "lifetime parts," that couldn't be farther from the truth in my opinion.

Was it expensive at the dealership? Yes. But it was worth it. $1700 all four struts and alignment. Took them two days as I guess they started late on the first day, but the car runs like new.

oo7spy

Thanks for sharing. I have been consistently telling people here 100k is max life for a strut. Monroe, Inc. suggests 50k mike intervals.

We have heard about the lift causing a failure too, but I don't think we ever got the root cause. It happened to Tampa.

NathanJax

Good to hear. I'm having my H&R lowering springs put on this weekend and I went ahead and bought the KYB struts to swap out a the same time. I have 91,000 miles on mine

Mr.Tea

Just changed my Front struts yesterday...all Oem parts $320 Labor $155 Alignment $55, Sway bar link $80 total cost $610.00

stevieray

What is Acura's response to having struts that "inadvertently" break because of a crappy piece of plastic? I just replaced my rear struts (OEM) 20K miles ago and if this happens. I'm going to be up someone's ass at the parts department. Ridiculous---

oo7spy

Honda also admits that 1 in 600 J-series V6 engines will eject the #2 cylinder spark plug. However, the occurrence is low enough that they will neither issue a recall nor accept financial responsibility our of warranty.



Dealer parts and labor are warrantied for 1 year. If the strut fails within that time, I believe you have a solid case for a warranty replacement.

Frenetic

I asked the same thing as I was worried about it doing the same thing all over again next time my car was lifted, but he stated that as far as he was aware that it was/is fairly rare and technically, the struts still perform and really aren't considered "malfunctioning," but it will produce sometimes noticeable changes in performance.

He mentioned most people won't even notice it, but I did. That's probably why there wasn't a recall or anything more formal than an advisory, or whatever you call it. It also didn't happen until I had 80k miles on the car, so technically they were probably due to be replaced anyways.

In any case, I preferred OEM over non-OEM so I had little choice.

Oh, forgot to mention that he stated this "malfunction" tends to happen in hotter climates moreso than colder areas, so I get the sense that this fatigue or breakage is probably caused, in part, by hot temperatures + semi-worn down struts I guess.

stevieray

^ Good info. Thanks---

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

nice write up OP.

#Igoogledconsternation

TampaRLX-SH

It has been 2 years since my front struts failed after being on a lift (for regular maintenance @ 48K miles).

I am now at 57K miles on my RL and have had 2 service calls, both times the car was on the lift.

My front struts are performing fine as I can tell but they have developed a thud sound on minor bumps, manhole covers and even road reflectors. It is a symptom similar to what I read mostly on the RDX and RLX forums where it sounds like 'loose lumber' on minor road impacts.

If I have the stereo on, I would not notice it, but it is a sound not becoming of the car. Whoever is making the struts for Acura needs to be pressed. Even my service manager tells me many Acura owners, particularly new models AND those who have older models and have replaced struts are complaining of clunky sounds with a smaller percentage complaining of ride degradation.

I am wondering if my 2 year old replacement struts are subject to failure of the plastic component you speak of, since it has been on a lift since the replacement?

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Completely off topic, but what's our solution to that? Just check the torque on the spark plugs at given intervals?

oo7spy

I think that would be the best practice. From what I've read, it's a loose plug that causes the ejection.

Frenetic

The biggest issue is that the clunky sound is so subjective. I would call it a THUD, more than a clunk, lol. The lynchpin for me was driving a loaner from Acura, a brand new 2015 MDX for a brake job that was recently done (fronts).

While I kind of always suspected something wasn't right, driving that thing around sort of confirmed my suspicions, at least for me. I drove that thing over the same roads I drive my RL and it was amazing at the noise, or lack of it. It would still make thuds, just way more muffled and subdued. Natural like and something that I would normally expect to hear.

Now here's the kicker, I still get that thud sound, with brand new struts, but it's like the MDX. Also, the frequency of "thuds" is way less as well, same as the MDX.

The biggest difference, however, was something that could only be felt with new struts and that was the ride. It was just less frenetic (pardon the pun) and way more settled over jumpy, rough surfaces.

I wouldn't get overly paranoid personally. Confirmation bias is a horrible thing as I should know. You can make yourself feel like there's something wrong even when there is nothing to it.

Maybe you can get an Acura loaner and compare for yourself. Probably the only sure-fire way to feel and hear the differences.

beekermartin

I replaced my front struts but I went with KYB. I noticed an improvement in ride quality especially over small bumps. I still notice the "thud" you described but not as often. I also feel like a car at the level of the RL shouldn't have that noise. I also changed my sway bar links and bushings before the struts.

Anyway, the thud isn't a big deal. The car now rides and handles much better with the new struts installed. I wish I knew what caused the thud sound but everything else in the suspension appears to be in perfect condition.

Part of me is wondering if it could be the rear engine mount??? I changed the front and passenger side mounts but I never changed the rear or drivers side.

Frenetic

Are OEM struts warrantied? I never bothered to ask and I assume no, but maybe you can explain the situation and see if they are, assuming the struts experienced that issue.

Also might want to see if they are leaking, which mine were, although leaking and that thud sound might be mutually exclusive.

oo7spy

eugene3524

Has anyone used the KYB strut that Advance auto parts offers?

oo7spy

A handful of members have over the past 6 months. The reviews are that they perform better than old OEM struts. The verdict on longevity is still out.

eugene3524

cool thanks for the info, with the coupon code I can get both fronts for under 150, figure do the install myself as Ive dealt with alot of coilovers in the past and shouldnt be that bad

Sock

FYI, I found KYB has a $40 mail-in-rebate when you buy 4 shocks/struts through 4/30/15.

KYB Americas | $40 for 4

RLifer

This is a noob question so feel free to flame away (yes I did a search and read ten pages of threads on shocks). I am taking my 2011 RL with 82k in to mechanic for new brakes and am wondering if I should also have him do shocks and struts while it is there? I think they are still OK after passing the 'push down test' but just trying to be preventive and proactive. I already purchased the kyb's, boots, and mounts, and could just save the parts and have it done in a year or two...

oo7spy

At 82k with parts in hand, I would go ahead and do it.

rlerman

Why do it if you don't need to? There is no labor savings doing it at the same time you do brakes, other than taking the wheels off. I'd wait another 20k miles and reassess.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Fixed.

oo7spy

I can see the argument against it with only 4 years on the clock. At 20k miles per year, I am guessing they're mostly highway and haven't been too hard on the car.

Flip a coin?

RLifer

Yeah I know I'm OCD, just acquired the vehicle six months go and yeah my mechanic also thinks the prior owner was all highway miles.

I only put about 6k miles per year on cars, mostly city driving too, so an abrupt change for the car. I bet if I own the car for another ten years, I'll only take it from 82k to 142k, so thinking I should enjoy the ride on new shocks and brakes.

Sorry for the thread hijack, and thanks for the advice.

rlerman

I'm at 104k and I feel some minor shake at hwy speeds and ride has been getting just a liitle rougher. So I'm going to replace my rear shocks and front struts. Acura wants $1950, local Honda dealer wants $2150, local monro service, whom I trust, will allow me to supply the parts and they just charge labor. I found the shocks and struts at partsgeek.com for $320 shipped less another $40 rebate so $280 total, not bad...they are KYB. Monro wants 4-5 hrs of labor or roughly $400, they said they've done the RL before. So, out the door Im at about $680, I think that's very good and will add an alignment. Should hopefully last me another 50-100k miles. Looking forward to how the car feels afterward.

woodek

Car in shop for brakes. It was on the lift, and other that typ brake replacement, that was it. Until I roll home. Car doesn't feel like mine. Speed bump creates feeling of front end falling off of the car.

Going back to the dealer and kind of know what they will say. Prol strut extension (replacement).

Will see...........or should I say $ee?

woodek

Obviously a common problem (strut extension) seems to happen when age hits the cars. Guess you just have to add the $800.00+ to the 100,000 mi timing belt maintenance.

I can accept it because my car has been paid off for 4 years. Nothing is free! You just gotta' understand it could make a $200 brake job, a $1,000 affair. You just never know if/when its going to happen (an internet check showed this and there are service bulletins for Acura as well).

But on the bright side, once the struts are changed out, you don't have to worry about it for a few years!

rlerman

I had my rear shocks and front struts replaced today and all I have to say is WOW!!! I see a tremendous difference and it literally feels like a new car. My ride was getting harsher over bumps and at hwy speeds I'd feel considerable shaking. Now it's like gliding on air, really remarkable how much it's improved, the harshness and shaking are completely gone and no more roll in turns.

I had them replaced with KYB excel-G, cost me $400 to have them installed plus another 70 for an alignment plus the $280 for the shocks ($320 less $40 rebate), I'd say I did really well. If anyone is even remotely on the fence about replacing their shocks, get it done, it's worth it. And don't mess with the dealer, who quoted me an absurd $2k, find a decent reputable shop like I did that will allow you to supply the parts.

I had the shop check my motor mounts and they said they all looked good, I'm at 105,000 miles. So happy with the results. I was thinking of selling my RL, this has completely changed my mind.

oo7spy

grip1968

Did you had to replace the strut mounts too when you installed your new struts.

rlerman

No.

grip1968

Were did you purchase your struts, I'm in the process of changing mines.

rlerman

Partsgeek.com had the best price.

woodek

I would have shopped around but mine happened all at once. The ride home from the shop (when the struts extended), was bad. I hit 3 speed bumps and it was worse, and the ride back to the dealer was ridiculous! My car felt like one of those "slammed" low riders! How on earth can they ride like that!?!?

I may have to look at getting the rear shocks replaced. Thanks for the info RLerman.
Now I hope the Motor Mounts don't crap out on me.

mennis876

Thanks for the advice. I'm at 192K miles and never had this done. Just placed my order thanks to your post... $299 before that rebate. Hopefully I got the right parts since it's less than what you paid.

rlerman

Could be tax is the difference. Wow, that's a lot of miles on original equipment, you will notice a huge improvement, will feel like a new car.

grip1968

Just installed new KYB struts all 4, and sway bar links the car drive way better then before. What a big difference..

alfadoctor

Do you replace the strut bearings at the same time as you put in new struts? I didn't read where anyone did this, so it was assumed that the old bearings were reused.