i just wasted $200 and time, because the struts i ordered for my acura TL 3.2 doesn't fit. luckily summit racing will take it back, but i still had to pay for labor. i ordered the kyb gr-2 for the 97 accord, because in the thread
http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=25855

i'm not blaming din, just blaming honda/acura for making this 1st gen. TL owner's life hell. the shocks fit, but the 3.2 springs are too wide in circumference, therefore making the struts incompatible. i guess you 2.5 owners get all the luck. i also called tokico about there shocks and to my surprise, they don't make shocks for the 1st gen 3.2 TL, so the one's listed in autocarparts.com are from what car? i'm gonna stick to crappy stocks now, because i really don't like tokico. i used to love my car, but since i found out that there really isn't aftermarket support, my hearts changed. i think its time to move on to better things.

 

I don't think 2.5 owners have all the luck. We are just lucky to have a little bit more sporty suspension shared with the 94-97 Accord. Would love to have a bigger motor, though...

--Teflon

 

I would believe more less if the 3.2 TL's suspension was more similar to an Acura Legend, than an Accord. But it's all assumption. I wonder if anyone on this board has changed to AM struts.

 

how much did the shocks cost you? i'm thinking about getting them, but trying to find the lowest prices.

 

I have a 1997 3.2 TL and had similar problem as naka18. I trusted the Koni Sport part numbers posted on this site and the comments from people that said, "It was easy to install". The parts, installation, modifications and alignment will cost me over $2,000 (Canadian) by the time it is done. The problems are as follows:

1. The front shocks had to have a groove machined in it so that the TL would be dropped only 2" instead of over 3" because the Koni's are 2" shorter than stock TL's. It cost me $40 to have this done.
2. The front shock spring perch was too small for the springs, so the shop where my car is at now is trying to modify it to make it work. This will probably cost me another $50 or more
3. The front shock rod is larger than stock and the top mount that bolts to the car had to be modified. This added another $50
4 The front shock brackets for the brake lines are in the wrong position and have to be modified. Another $50+
6. The Koni part number posted for the rear shocks were for standard ones and not the sport model with external adjustable rebound. I had to order new ones from another supplier because I needed it right away and had to pay a premium. I could not take the old ones back and get a refund.

Hopefully, my 3.2TL will be finished tomorrow. It was in the shop all day yesterday and probably until noon tomorrow which will cost me a ton of money. This is all because I trusted the postings on this site.

Guys, before you give part numbers, please double check with the dealers and check your postings because we are suppose to help people with their TL modifications and not cause them grief and loss of a lot of money as in my case and others.

 

they cost me $279.80. the s & h was free from summit racing.

 

I have a 2.5 TL 96.. and u guys are making me scared to soup up my car.. i would hate to spend that much and knowing that there is a chance things will go wrong and have me spend a ton more. i am about to give up too... it sounds like we arent sure about any of these parts. (frustrating)

 

I have a 2.5, and I know for a fact that tokico shocks from a 97 accord work, because i have them in my car.

Other people have also installed, KYB and Koni from an accord, but they too have a 2.5. Remind you that the 3.2's suspension is totally different from the 2.5's. I have yet to see anyone with a 3.2 with a uncomplicated suspension story, and I'm sorry that it happened to you guys. You should always double check with the facts and revise them, before you purchase something of such magnitude.

 

I have good news for 3.2TL owners that want to install Koni Sport shocks. My mechanic told me that he pressed out the spring perch off the original shocks and installed them on the Konis and it works fine.

Apart from the other minor headaches I mentioned previously and the additional modification costs, it is still worth the headache to change the shocks to a performance one. The stock ones are too mushy.

ReQuest is absolutely correct that the 2.5 and 3.2 front suspensions are very different and that is causing a lot of the problems with parts not fitting. I have no idea why Acura did this.