Belzebutt

For the past while I've been hearing a squeak every time I go over bumps in my 04 TSX. I've got a lot of bumpy roads around my house, and even when I back into my garage, when the rear wheels go over the ledge it goes *squeak-squeak*.

Is this an indication that I need to replace springs?

If so, how much are the OEM ones, and am I better off getting somethign like the H&R OE Sport Springs? I don't want to go nuts lowering because I don't want to get a camber kit etc., I was just wondering if I could get a little lowering for a similar price to what the stealership would charge me for OEM parts and still keep everything the same.

TinkySD

My TSX does the exact same thing and I'm pretty sure it's the rear shocks gone bad. I'm planning on upgrading to the a-spec suspension before too long.

TSXuck

iTrader: (1)

Belzebutt, what is the milage of your tsx?

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

How many miles are you guys on?
My aspec does make noise but I don't think its that bad at all.

TinkySD

I'm all the way at 80k... I'm one of the april 03 adopters so i've been driving it a long while. I have no complaints as the handling is still tight and there is no bounce to the ride I just figured the noise was due to the shocks getting worn.

jlukja

Guys, take a look at your rear sway bar bushings.

I have the Comptech RSB with poly bushings and the A-spec suspension and I was experiencing the same kind of squeaking about a year ago. My Acura dealer didn't want to investigate it further once they saw my Comptech RSB. I did some investigating one weekend and realized that it was the poly bushings that were squeaking. As the suspension is compressed and decompressed when going over bumps the RSB rotates within the bushing. This is what was causing my squeak. I relubed the bushing (using leftover lube that came with my bushings) and the squeaking went away.

TinkySD

I'm using the rubber bushings that came with the comptech bar but it's not a bad thought --

I'll see if I can take the bar off this weekend and take a look.

Belzebutt

I'm at 60000 km.

Damn, if it's just a matter of spraying WD40 on the sway bar bushins there goes my reason to get the lowered springs.

SoCaliTrojan

Yeah, it's most likely the rear sway bar (whether you have aftermarket or the stock sway bar). There shouldn't be anything wrong with your spring (if you hear a "crunch" sound, you might need to put rubber on some of the coils). If it's your strut, just push down on one of your corners and see how long it takes to stabilize. If it keeps going up and down for a long time, then your strut is bad.

tiny, my comptech rear sway bar started squeaking a while back. I did lube it, but I guess all the turning made my sway bar squeeze out all the grease (since the bushing isn't the greasable kind). It resumed squeaking shortly after. Fortunately, when I took my car offroading, it made the squeak disappear...I haven't heard it in a few months =)

TinkySD

Well that settles it time for a little bushing lubing this weekend, haha. Unfortunately I guess my excuse to upgrade to the a-spec suspension is going away

Jeff_B

It is extremely unlikely that the sound is caused by your springs. Bushings are the most likely cause, so you should inspect those (there are a ton back there).

curls

Yeah, Belzebutt, I'd highly recommend lubing the swaybar bushings (whether stock or aftermarket) with a good silicone paste grease -- similar to the kind that Energy Suspension provides with their bushings. Seems to last a while and does a damn good job with only a VERY small amount required.

While you're under there, replace the stock bar with a Comptech or Progress one. You'll thoroughly enjoy it, trust me!

aaronng

WD40 is not a good lube. Take off the bushings and use lithium or teflon grease.

jlukja

^^ I found the grease provided with the Energy Suspension bushings to become very tacky. I've seen a number of people recommending high temperature lithium grease and I think I will give that a try next time I'm lubing the bushings.

SoCaliTrojan

WD40 isn't a good lubricant. It'll push away any lubricant that you had previously put (if any), and then it'll evaporate. For a temporary fix, you can spray some silicon spray. For a permanent fix, you'll need to remove the bushing and grease it well with grease (not spray)

TinkySD

I didn't have a chance to remove the bar -- but I applied silicone lubricant a few times this weekend the best that I could. I haven't gone over any speed bumps yet but as soon as I do i'll report back.

FYI WD40 will rot rubber so you should definitely not use it on any bushings.

godfather2

time for a chassis lube

jwood_06TSX

If you don't have time to take them off but want a temporary solution just get a can of silicone spray, that will help it a little bit.....but def don't use WD40 like the others mentioned. I have the squeak too but i think i need to tighten my endlinks back up but haven't had time to get under there yet either!

aaronng

Yup, I was one of those that recommended high temperature lithium grease after my white lithium grease dried out on the bushing. Castrol LMM high temperature bearing lithium grease is pretty cheap too.

jlukja

^^ Thanks for the tip, mate.