Anybody running a 2004-2008 TL on that A-Spec Suspension Kit? Thinking about upgrading but want some feedback first.....wanted to do the the Type-S suspension but its somewhat a stiff ride. plus I heard i might need to change brake lines etc+ $$$$$$


Thanks Guys

 

Are you trying to lower the car or just want peformance suspension?

Aspec suspension is a very good "sporty suspension" not to stiff not to smooth

 

Welcome to the forums.

I deleted your other two threads, since this is the best place to get the correct information and support.

 

I actually want to raise the car back to stock height....its too low so when i hit potholes the front end feels likes its gonna fall apart.

 

What kind of suspension u have now?

There is a way for you to be lowered and ride smooth...it's called tein street advanced,better than stock!

But if you want stock height,a spec is a good choice,type s is a little stiff in my opinion...

 

i personally dont have aspec suspension on my car... but i've read that if u have a AT its good to still rock the MT aspec suspension as u will have more of an even drop on ur car ... albeit a small one

 

Yea...i wanted to do the type s suspension but its just too stiff plus the brembo setup is too pricey:/ so im really considering the a-spec....does that Tein setup come all together or do i have to buy everything individually?

 

toghether...Coilovers FTW...screw Aspec suspension...Weak Drop...

 

Your PM box is full. Can't reply back to you lol

 

Lol just signed up:/

 

I installed the aspec suspension about a month ago. Compared to the base suspension I think it's a considerable upgrade. You can get it from around $600 on ebay or from some of the vendors here so compared to some of the aftermarket setups, it's quite reasonably priced. I immediately noticed a stiffer ride and better cornering. It was night and day. Part of that was likely from the fact that my current coilovers had 80K miles on them. Bar none one of the best upgrades I've done on the car. Highly recommended.

It will drop the car a little bit, around a half inch or so. Not huge, but I didn't want to be slammed anyway so it was perfect for me. I'd dropped so much weight that it actually only returned me back to stock height

edit - Keep in mind that install on these isn't a walk in the park or for a novice DIYer. I'm pretty handy but it was my first time messing with suspension and it took me about 3 hours. I'd consider it an "intermediate" job. There's a service bulletin for the job from Acura which helps out too.

 

The A-Spec suspension is stiffer than the Type-S suspension.

I have the Type-S A-Spec suspension and also noticed a night and day difference in cornering and stiffer ride.

The 10 minute drive around after installing it put a huge smile on my face the entire time.
This was probably the fact that I installed it myself too.

Definitely worth it. I got mine used with 25000kms on it for $350 from a local member.

 

OP just go with the A-Spec since you kind of want to stay at height level

 

For those that have upgraded to the ASPEC from a Base TL (or even a TLS), did you have an alignment? I'm debating upgrading from my stock setup, with 17" wheels. Thanks!

 

yes...you need an alignement. anytime you change the geometry even with a 3/4" drop you need an alignment.

i installed Aspec suspension and two days later had an alignment done at my dealer. be sure to get the toe set to zero. the TL is finicky when it comes to alignments and eating tires if it's off.

 

I had an alignment done within a werk I believe.

The guys at the shop said most of it was within spec lol

 

Sorry to revive this thread, but wanted to know, If I put the A-Spec suspension on my 05' base TL, how much would it lower the car?

I really am looking for my front to be a little lower than my rear so that it has a tilt look. I can't stand seeing the front end higher than the rear. Please let me know. Thanks.

 

One inch^^^^after settling...

 

aspec suspension is not really going to help you in that dept (for the look you are trying to achieve). you'll get an inch at most and an even drop OR the front end still sitting slightly higher than the rear.

you're better off going with a different set up if all you're looking for is a look. if you want performance...and keeping a tolerable DD close to OEM and looks are last on the priority list...get aspec.

 

Thank you for letting me know. One inch is a good amount without scrapping the bumper all over. Thanks.

 

Welcome...^^^

 

1" front and rear or is it 1 front and 3/4 in the rear?

 

Pretty sure the MT aspec suspension kit has been discontinued so your only option is the aspec AT kit which lowers car evenly 3/4" to 1". The MT kit on an AT gave the car the rake look by dropping the front more than the rear.

 

the car naturally sits with the front end higher than the rear on stock suspension.

you will only get up to an inch all around. i believe mine was about 3/4" or so at all corners, with my front end sitting a touch a higher than the back.

 

This thread is dated but wanted to add my thoughts on the ASPEC suspension for the non Type-S TL. I just had a brand new ASPEC suspension kit (springs + struts) installed on my '08 TL with only 30K on the odometer. I was unfortunately surprised to see it roll out of the shop looking very similar to how it did just a few hours earlier. After measuring, I found that the kit dropped my TL less than 1/4" all the way around. It measured exactly 26" in the rear, from ground to start of middle fender with all tires at 32PSI, and 26.25" in the front, all things equal. Very disappointing day for me. A quarter inch drop is nothing, certainly not worth the $900 I spent on parts and installation. I'm actually very irritated with it as I highly doubt the springs will settle another 1-2 - 3/4" to give me the preferred height. Damn it! Not sure what to do. The ride is stiffer and more sporty I guess, but I really wanted that AND a 1" OEM drop on my car. I would not have paid this much for just a quarter or even half inch drop, regardless.

I also installed an AEM CAI that I can hardly even hear, which is dually annoying. Apparently nobody was in my corner today, feels like an all around waste of time and money and I spent quite a bit of both rounding all of this up. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions about the ASPEC kit, let's hope it ends up doing something for me. FML.

 

^^did you drive it around first before measuring?? the car does need to settle a little.

 

Also, there are plenty of threads WARNING you that if you're after a 'drop', you should look else where.




Even in this very thread; ppl said its not gonna provide that much of a visual difference.
However; performance wise, its better than stock springs

 

and the AEM CAI is an overpriced noise maker. you can only hear it at WOT. it might hiss at you if 1st or 2nd with a little gas.

 

I'm sorry and really surprised that the drop you got was so small. I have a 2006 AT TL with the aspec suspension. When I had it installed I could notice afterward that it was lowered a small amount. Maybe 3/4 of a inch. 1/4 I find hard to believe. Something doesn't sound right. I would take it back to who installed it and ask them why it doesn't look dropped.

 

I did email Curry Acura who sold me the ASPEC Suspension, and the guy who responded said this isn't common, but also didn't offer much in the way of any sort of resolution. Even after some more time has passed, the car is still sitting the same, I was hoping they would continue to break in a give me a little bit more drop, but no such luck. The only thing I can really bank on at this point is once they have 15-20K miles on them, natural sag will occur, and then maybe once I'm over the car and looking for something else it will be sitting at a desirable height. Maybe Oh well. In retrospect, after all of the money I paid to have this done, I really wish I would have just gone with a set of Tien Advanced Coilovers, would have likely been a much happier guy.

~Caveat Emptor, you've been warned!~

 

does the OP really think you need to change the brakes to put on the type s suspension? or am i reading that wrong ?lol

 

To tell you the truth. If I had it to do all over again I would have gone with the H&R Sport Springs paired with the Koni yellows. Although the aspec suspension will make a decent improvement in handling and looks, I feel it's still lacking in what I really want in both. I guess Acura was trying to find the best balance of ride/handling they could. The nice drop with the H&R's is as far as I would want to go for the street. If you live where they're are alot of potholes I wouldn't mess around with coilovers. Unless you want to destroy your car.

 

you do know that just because you buy coilovers, doesnt mean you have to be slammed. in fact the Tein SAs in the highest position give you a 1.1" drop. and they give you the ability to adjust dampening to make the ride better. just my

 

I have A-Spec suspension on my 08 TL-S.

Stock Type S Suspension:


A-Spec Suspension:




Jon

 

^^what are your tire specs? just curious.

 

winter mode: 235/45/17 Michelin X-ICE | Replica Type S Wheels - 17x8 +45

summer mode: 245/40/18 Hankook Ventus V12 | TSW Nurburgring 18x8 +35

Jon

 

your aspec drop looks better than mine in front.

you're running OEM for winter and a lightly wider tire for summer on 18's.

 

Post up a pic of yours! Correct about the tires - I wanted a bit more aggressive setup for summer but nothing crazy that I would have to roll/pull fenders.

Do you have a Type-S? Not sure but I think the 3.5L motor is heavier than the 3.2L so it helps a bit with the drop in the front. Mine is auto which adds to the weight and drop as well.

 

i have a 05 base/navi with 6MT. my front end sits a tad higher than the rear. i have OEM spec'd wheels and tires (18's with 235/40/18). love the cornering though!! add the progress RSB...woo hooo!!

 

Funny you mention the Progress RSB! That's today's install!!! LOL Some days I wish I had waited for a 6-speed but I'm happy with the auto too. My last car was a 6-speed Mazdaspeed3 - that thing was fun!