Would someone please give me an overview on the struts (shocks?) that I should choose to replace the original set? OEM’s were recommended, but the $800 price tag doesn’t sit so well with my pocket book. Are their less expensive and comparable alternatives?

 

go to delray acura online store and there you can get OEM for 450$ shipped

 

450 is DAMN CHEAP!!! this is for the 95-98 TL?

 

this is for a 96 2.5 tl.. 102$ for each front, and 110$ for each back shock..

 

i just looked and its more expensive for 3.2.. the front are 155$ each.. back are same..

 

try lookin at aftermarket KYB shocks for a 91-95 Acura Legend coupe or sedan doesn't matter. Those should fit...and carry a total price around $250

 

Are you certain that the Legend 91-95 will also fit 97 2.5 TL?

 

well scratch that guys....our chassis code is UA3 for the 3.2TL and the legend is KA7 and KA8 for the coupe. haha, my bad

 

The real question is which does the OP need? UA3 is 3.2TL but what about the 2.5s?

 

The front suspension on a 3.2 TL is swappable with a '91 - '95 Legend.

The rear is unique.

 

the 2.5 chassis code should be UA2. On ur vin# it is the 4th and 6th digit/letter to get the chassis code. so ken, i could buy shocks for the 91-95 Legend for the front of my car and Eibach makes a pro kit for the 98' 3.2 TL. So the only question i have is what about the shocks off a 91-95 Legend for the back? what would be the difference for the shocks on the back?

 

Almost, but no cigar. The bottom of the shocks are a much larger diameter on the Legend...

 

for a 2.5 tl the front and rear suspension is interchangible with 90-97 honda accords. exact same part numbers!

 

WOW KEN nice to see ya comments. i've been gone for a while.

Do us 3.2tl'ers have any options for the back struts?

 

I know ken said are 3.2tl front suspension is swapple with 91-95 acura legend shocks so just before I order these can I get a secound opinion as to fitment.
will these work for my 1996 3.2tl

Ebay acura legend front shocks

 

anybody??? help...<----- NOVICE

 

These are NOT a direct fit at all. As I wrote above and in another thread, take a look at the bottom of te shock. It is a larger diameter than the stock on the 3.2TL. I am nearly complete a swap where I yanked the forks (they attach between the bottom of the shock and the lower control arms off a Legend. Looks like it will fit, but in all honesty, have not completed the install to confirm steering limits, etc. are not effected. the fork is larger in girth so to speak, and I may need to modify it a little.

But, it looks like it will fit.

I am putting Eibach Pro and with those exact KYB's on. Nothing radical, just improving the existing ride a little.

Also of importance is that the KYB's in the pix have a larger diameter shaft (silver part) The original bumper is replaced with the one in the picture, along with the rest of the parts (upper special washer and nut).

Of note is that the stock spring is really long - in converting mine, I luckily had three of the Monroe Strut compressors. Needed the third to relieve tension to get them all off.... You will see what I mean when you do yours...

 

If you want to buy the right parts for your car
Call acurazine vendor Mr HeelToe www.heeltoeauto.com

Marcus- 1-949-295-1668

That guy knows his honda and acura parts and has many brands/choices of parts

 

wow thanks guys I did read your write-up. sorry it flew right over my head as I know ken also knows his acura's so just got stuck with what he posted

thanks again.

 

Mr Heel Toe was a parts dept guy and worked service tech at Honda for several years.
Then went to Magnaflow exhaust and made a number of industry contacts.
He is also right by the TEIN shock place in LA and drops over there 2 or 3 times a week.
Want good info- he is the guy I turn to first

 

I know for a fact that some AUDI's have UA3 rear shock absorption it's an option on some of them -- (I dont which audi's though) is there anybody who can find out if this is the same as are 3.2TL'S

 

Well, I am done the front end shock replacement after a bunch of side projects not relating to the TL, a car accident, house stuff, ATV (Quad) engine Build, etc., etc.

The bottom line is that to get Legend Shocks on a 3.2 TL, it is actually pretty easy. Find a donar Legend, and get the shock forks off of it. They have the larger mount for the larger shocks, and are a direct fit onto the lower control arm. They also clear (at least so far ) the brakes in lock to lock turning, etc.

The Legend (Mine were off of a 2 door) shock forks are the same height as the 3.2TL. The difference is in the shape:

--3.2TL - Imagine the legs of a Victoria Secret Model walking the runway - Tall, slim and straight

--Legend - Imagine a the legs heavyset Cowgirl with chaps that just got off a horse after riding for about 2 hours.

I ended up putting on KYB's and Eibach Springs. Need to check the drop, as it does not appear to be that much - need to measure, but the Eibachs were supposed to drop 1" ish, and not sure if the shock length of the Legend changed things. I do have pix, though.

 

My 1998 3.2 TL "bounces" over one part of the local interstate. Seems to be "driven" by the back of the car, but I know that usually the front struts wear out first due to the engine weight, braking, etc. What has everyone done in trying to deal with a "bouncy" 3.2 TL. Mine is at about 243k miles now. I don't want to get into coilovers/etc. I just want to go with OEM parts that are easy to replace. One more question--are the back struts difficult to replace?
THANKS!!!!

 

Back (and front) struts are easy to replace.

With that many miles, replace all 4 - you will be much happier - and you don't have to get all the tools out twice...

 

Thanks, racerock. I really appreciate the info. The thing I was thinking about was a 94 maxima we had; you had to do a bunch of stuff to the rear end when replacing the rear struts, so I never messed with them.

 

Not a problem at all. Another thing that makes the Acura easy, is that an alignment job is not required - as long as your alignment is already o.k.

You see, what we have are technically coil over shocks. Not Mcpherson struts.

Difference on a basica level that if you take our coil/shock combination out, you can still roll, or even drive the car, because it has separate components to connect the spindles to the car...

ON a M Strut car, if you take the struts off, the spindles are hanging on the lower control arm...

In general - our shocks are one bolt on the bottom, 3 nuts on the top for the front, 2 nuts on the rear and they come out. Be sure to drop both wheels in the air when you do it so the sway bar allows movement of the control arm to get them out. Disassembly is just like a strut from there.