i think the stock tsx suspension is fine for everyday driving.

personally i prefer a sportier ride - through an aftermarket suspension. i also want my suspension to compliment the looks of the way i like to mod my car. the aspec does not offer that.

i think that if someone wanted to only mildly alter their suspension - they should just leave it alone. to me, the aspec doesn't offer a big enough difference.

i haven't drove a spec tsx - but i drove a regular tl and an Aspec tl. same difference to me.

there is still body roll.

and yea i would say that the a spec or stock shock is crap compared to a koni shock. koni has been a long time reputable shock manufacturer.

provench did say to offer opinions. i do so freely. i have had driving experiences w/ neuspeed sport springs w/ stock shock / ground control coilovers / eibach pro kit on stock shocks and now tein flex - on the tsx.

hands down - i say the tein flex is the winner.

but for provench - he wants only a mild drop and doesn't care about ride height adjustablity - i say get aftermarket springs and koni shocks.

it's a simple and proven combination.

 

dzuy,

how can you say the stock and aspec is crap compared to konis? the two are completely different and appeal to different people. the konis are meant for more autocrossing and track use, while the stock and aspec are meant more for normal street use. i think the mild drop on the aspec has clouded your judgment.

ive driven in many different suspension setups on different cars, and while some are nice they are NEVER as comfortable as stock. The ONLY reason i chose the aspec was b/c I didnt want to lose too much of that comfort.

 

oh goodness. this debate is never ending.

my questions then:

1. if you dont want more performance, why would you even bother getting a different suspension.

if ride quality is such a concern - dont get any suspension. leave it stock.

and i still say the stock shock is crap compared to a koni shock - heck you would notice an increase in ride comfort from switching out the stock shock to a koni one.

the stock suspension, as i said before, is fine for mild everyday driving - but it sucks, yes sucks - for an enthusiast.

if you find yourself worrying about ride quality - then dont get ANY different suspension.

basic law here - give a little to gain a little.

so if you dont want your ride quality to decrease alot - dont expect to gain any performance aspects either.



now provench go out and buy some hardcore coilovers like buddy clubs

 

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, obviously, but I hate to see a guy who specifically asks for stock type ride quality -

to be led into some type of aftermarket setup that does not provide a decent ride, or even daily drivability. Here's a quote from dzuy's initial review of his ProKit springs:

and here's what he had to say about the Tein Flex:

Not as bouncy? Since when did any bounce come to be associated with ride quality? When someone has ride comfort as one of their goals, aftermarket suspensions are probably not going to cut it for them.

The Nuespeed/Koni struts can only lower the car 1/2". They do have five grooves, but they're spaced at 1/4" intervals, with two below and two above stock ride height. This makes sense, since lowering the car more than 1/2" on the stock springs would have you bottoming out all the time.

Listen, no one here is suggesting that spending $5000 on a complete A-Spec kit is the way to go (really on $3,000), but $600 for struts AND springs which are around 1" lower and stiffer, retain most of your ride comfort while reducing body roll and brake squat, and avoiding all warrantee issues, it's the best deal going.

If you come on here and say "I'm looking to slam my car to the ground" or "I'd like to track my car-screw luxury ride", you won't find me in there trying to convince them they should buy A-Spec. But it has its place-don't simply dismiss it as crap.

 

I can understand the need for a comfortable ride and that's the advantage of an adjustable system. The Koni has a total of approx. 2.25 turn from min. to max. Currently, I have mine set to 1.0 turn. The ride is firm but not hash even going over railroad tracks. The setting is sensitive enough that 1/8 turn can make a different. If the setting is set to the lower settings, the ride is even softer than stock. Also, if controlling body roll is what you after, then a rear swaybar should do the job nicely with less money. I'm sure there are even better suspension system out there, such the the Tein flex with both compression and rebound adjustments. But for price, the Koni is not bad. still not bashing.

 

Just to be fair, the A-spec kit is very nice and easy to install, and provide most people with the handling improvement they after.

 

Who said they don't want ANY performance increase?

I think the stock suspension is very good for the target audience. The A-Spec struts do a much better job of dampening then the stock struts. And no, they're not adjustable-they don't need to be, as they're already matched to the stiffer springs.

Agreed, but you still need to choose a spring if you're going to see any reduction in body roll. And there goes the ride quality.

Not according to Car & Driver, Motor Trend, etc. Street Racer Monthly may disagree....

Sure, but in order to acheive the slammed look you talk about, you have to give a lot as well.

 

doood.... each setup has its own pros and cons. some people are after different things, and some people are only willing compromise so much.

you keep saying that the konis are so superior in everyway compared to the aspec in terms of performance and comfort, but you dont own any of these products. the point im trying to make here is that each product has its own positives and negatives. i just think it is unfair to say something is "sucky" when you have never owned it. I do recall you saying that coilovers are a waste of money, but now you own a set, and you are very pleased with them.

 

No 1 have the same feeling as me that the a-spec actually has better ride then stock!

 

What's the deal with these rates?

I paid $215.00 to have Koni's, Eibachs, and Eibach camber kits installed on my Accord at a local home town tire shop. I made friends with the alignment suspension tech.

That A-spec kit is chump easy to installed compared to what I had done. You could install that A-spec kit without a spring compressor.

6-hours what idiots work there?

 

MrChad ... both you and I would like to know

 

This is tip I sometimes use....

Find a local Honda dealer with a lot of tuned Hondas in the employee lot.
Then go make friends with the dudes at the parts counter....

90% of the time, they have a buddy that works in one of the bays that does work on the side for cash....Honda techs on the cheap at your house for beer, pizza, and some cash--what could be better?

 

I'm looking to drop my car about an Inch too, but since A-spec is being bashed on so much, its kinda lost its luster for me. Can anyone suggest a good set of springs that would help me achieve the 1 inch drop?

btw. What are the difference between coilovers, shocks, and dampeners??

 

Don't worry about what other people said. If you like and believe in the product, then buy it. I've said the same thing about DC header.

 

http://www.handa-accessories.com/accord/hfpsusp.pdf

Be a DIY-er this is the Accord A-spec suspension but the install should be the same for the TSX. Looks fairly easy the only odd tool is the Crow foot for the socket wrench.

Handa has the Accord suspension for $450, do you think the TSX one will be on the site shortly?

I did some checking and the Koni shocks for the Accord and TSX are the same, so do any parts from the Accord FFP kit fit the TSX? Maybe the rear shocks and springs?

Hopefully the TSX A-spec suspension will be offered soon and the DIY looks easier then most I've seen.

 

Your factory setup consists of struts and springs. Dampeners or shocks are just different terms for struts.

The term coilover means a complete unit of a strut and spring, but one that has a threaded body, which allows you to spin the lower spring perch up or down to raise or lower the car. Good ones also employ adjustability of both rebound and compression, which allows you to tailor the setup to your car. They were developed for racing purposes, and as such, use extremely high spring rates, often times double or more than the factory rates. You cannot expect to lower your car without increasing the spring rate-the car would simply bottom out all the time-meaning use all available suspension travel and come to a harsh banging stop.

The adjustability comes in handy when you corner balance a car; that is, applying equally distributed weight to the ground via the four contact points.

Good coilovers cost sometimes as much as 2K$ or more; but are a must for any serious competition.

 

I think you're making a big mistake if you discount the Aspec set up simply because some people are bashing it. Consider the fact that there is no one who has installed the Aspec suspension in their own cars who do not like this product. Practically everyone who has the Aspec set up like the nice balance between increased handling and ride. It has been designed and thoroughly tested to OEM tolerances and reliability by Honda engineers. The ONLY complaint people have is, it does not slam the car. Since you are only looking for a 1" drop, this should be a non-issue for you.

Now, if you plan on autocrossing your car or taking it to a road race track, then perhaps the Aspec suspension may not provide as much adjustability as you need. You may very well need a fully adjustable coilover suspension that allows you to adjust ride height, corner weight your car and set up different compression and rebound dampening rates for a specific track. But, if you are looking for a mildly more aggressive stance, better handling, yet maintaining every day useability, the Aspec would fit your needs perfectly.

When people say "coilovers" they are typically referring to complete spring/strut combinations with a threaded strut body that allows ride height adjustments by raising and lowering the spring perch (think Tein, H&R coilovers, etc.). When people say "shocks" or "struts" they are talking about the suspension component that dampens the movement of the spring. It is the component of the suspension with a shock/strut body and a piston rod that goes in and out. Shocks and struts both "dampen" the movement of spring. Therefore, when people say "dampeners" they are also referring to shocks or struts. The more you want to lower your car, the greater the spring rate you need to keep the car from bottoming out. With the increased spring rate, you will need a shock or dampener that can control the greater force of the spring.

This is why people who install only lowering springs in their cars often complain about a bouncey ride. B/c the stock shock cannot control the increased spring rate, when you hit a bump, the car will repeatedly oscillate several times before settling. If you have a shock with greater rebound dampening, it will exert greater force against the spring thereby keeping it from causing your car to pogo. It's sort of like a a screen door. There is a spring that pulls the screen door shut automatically and an air shock at the top of most screen doors which slows the speed that the door closes at. Once this shock wears out, the door slams shut hard b/c it only has the spring pulling the door shut.

 

Thanks for the explanation AlterZgo

I think I'm gonna look more into the A-spec suspension, apparently its not a good idea to just get the springs, what else should I get with the springs to maintain durability and stock ride comfort?

 

The only people that have bashed the A-spec have not driven an A-spec equipped TSX. Everyone that has praises it. Not to mention that these A-spec bashers also own or suggest coilovers or shock/spring setups that cost hundreds more than the A-spec and are better-suited for the track than the street.

Also, I just wanted to clear up these terms (paraphrased from Dictionary.com):

damper-n. a device that decreases the amplitude of an oscillating system
dampener-n. a device that moistens something

A damper damps vibration, but a dampener damps a towel.

 

1. first off, i have wheels with low profile tires.
2. i had stock shocks
3. getting aftermarket shocks w/ aftermarket springs will have a better ride than aftermarket springs w/ stock shocks - which i had.
4. i suggested getting aftermarket springs with koni shocks - which is not the same setup i had. plenty of members have that setup here as well and they also rave about it.
5. how can you say that bouncy does not affect the ride quality? that shows that the shock is incapable of rebounding and it sure is not comfortable.

and finally,
i did say that the a spec suspension will be ok for the mild hearted, but in my opinion, if you wanted to lower your car, you obviously should expect to lose some comfort.

and obviously the lower you go, the harsher the ride will be. you have to ask yourself what your intent is - if it's purely aesthetic - the a spec isn't goin to cut it.
if you want a mild drop w/ a decent ride - i guess the a spec will be ok - personally i still would recommend eibach/comptech springs with a koni shock - all three of these manufact. have a long time reputation for excellence.

 

No problem.

The A-spec suspension comes with everything you need, ie. springs and struts. This is why they are a good deal at around $600. Furthermore, they come as completely assembled units so installation is very simple an straightforward.

If you still decide to get aftermarket springs, then you would need to buy a set of struts which have greater rebound damping such as the adjustable Konis. But, as dzuy and others have pointed out, the lower you go, the more ride quality you will give up.

Again, your needs seem to be to: 1) lower your car about 1" and 2) maintain stock or close to stock ride quality. For these 2 criteria, the Aspec suspension is the best suited and cheapest option for you.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I was never sure which term was correct as both seem to be thrown around alot.

 

Should I get the koni shocks and new pads with the aspec suspension?

 

The aspec kit is a shock and spring assembly, no need for another set of shocks. What pads are you talking about?

 

FYI - I am leaning towards the A-Spec setup if I can score an install deal

I am looking for moderate drop, moderate affect on ride if any ,good bargain, strong warranty, and much improved handling and the A-Spec seems to put me on that track.

 

The A-spec would be very easy to install. I think you can do it yourself with some step-by-step instructions. It can be done in a few hours with some simple tools, floor jack and jack stands.

 

I have seen many people claim that they have put lowering springs on their ride and it still rides like stock. Then later, they're out buying something else because it doesn't work out.

I have personally rode in a TSX with stock struts and the Pro-Kit, and the ride was awful. Obviously, the owner agreed, because a couple months later he switched to Koni's. My personal feeling on this setup is that it doesn't handle very well because the Konis were not designed for a progressive rate spring like the Eibachs. It rode better than with the stock struts, but still nothing like stock ride comfort. The owner likes, and that's all that matters, but the car is so low that there are parking lots that he can't go into; frankly; I don't get that for a luxury sedan like the TSX, but like you said, it's all about what the owner expects out of his car.

It's possible that there is some combination out there, maybe the Konis and the
#110-155 Comptechs, which have a 315F and 160R spring rate and offer about a 1" drop, that would give a nice improvement in handling without too much penalty in ride or driveabilty.

Agreed, it's not about the looks......

Ummmm...okay, I'll take that. It's better than crap ......

 

Maybe I can check out a few options ... assume the instructions come with the parts?

 

It's a very easy install. Instructions are clear and straightforward. If you're not looking for the slammed and extreme negative camber ricer look, this suspension is for you.

 

Just in case anyone believes there's no performance increase with the A-Spec suspension, here's a great picture from TOV of a RSX Type S stock and with A-Spec.

Nice to keep the tires on the ground

 

hey lenny,

do you by any chance know what the spring rates on the aspec kit is?

thank!

 

What does everyone think would be the result of such a maneuver with just comptech springs on our car?

 

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.

 

The Mugen catalog listed the CL9 as having 5kg/mm springs up front and 3.1kg/mm in the rear. That's the equivalent to 280lb/in and 173.6lb/in respectively.
So it looks like your guess was pretty close.

 

That RSX' rear tire getting off the ground probably has more to do with its McPherson strut front suspension than anything. You would probably have to pull more Gs with the TSX to get the inside rear tire to get airborne like that. Of course, just like the RSX, adding A-spec springs will improve cornering nonetheless.

 

great info guys!

 

There would definetely be less body roll with either setup.

I've seen the pics of your car, and my belief based upon your ride height is that you have the Comptech 110-155s, which is maybe the only spring on the market that won't kill the factory struts. I've already seen a couple of complaints about the 110-160, which drops the car so much (like 1.75") that the ride is unbearable with factory struts. Lowering that much would also require even more spring rate to keep from bottoming out......