bsprinker

I called Acura of Boardman today to get a quote on installation of Comptech Springs, Tokico Blue shocks, and an alignment and the service department manager warned me that I will probably hear more squeaking in my suspension after I lower my CL-S. He said that normally when a car is lowered, the driver will typically get more noises from the suspension.

To all you guys who have lowered your Cl's, have you noticed THAT much more noise from your shocks and springs??? Just wondering! I thought I had my mind made up to lower my car, but just checking on some last-minute issues. Thanks. And, oh, BTW, installation price will be $670 including the alignment. Plus the cost of springs and shocks takes me to $1,250. OUCH!!! The dealership also said that I should buy the camber kit just in case, and if it isn't needed, I could return it. Is there a camber piece for all four corners, or just the rear?

That quite expensive for just lowering my car. But, I want the work warrantied, so I guess I should expect to pay more.

dets

doesn't acura have an a spec package that covers it?

bigman

a spec is for the 04 TL and rsx only.

G-UNIT

did acura take you out to dinner before they screw you?
1250 for install??????? figure 250 for springs...thats $1000 for install alone....i paid $100 cdn installed....that is wayyyyy too much...if ur adamant about acura installing, call another dealer!

CLpower

FYI, even if you get the work done at the dealer, it's not going to be warrantied most likely. I'd find a shop to do it for A LOT cheaper!

G-UNIT

also, you will feel/hear the road more when lowered, but its a good feeling......

btw, alignment shouldnt be done the same day you install springs....ur car will settle a bit, wait 2-3 wks after to get alignment...dont let acura say anything different....

good luck

Infamous425

warrantied or not its better to find a performance shop to do it for half the price (which includes the parts + labor)

blader

I dont know about that g-unit .. Jens at park ave acura did my spring install (for 250 BTW - 670 is WAY too much) and he recommended doing the alignment at the same time. hes done dozens and dozens of alignments and spring installs .. and my car has been back there since and alignment is fine.

G-UNIT

i trust jens knows what hes saying...
im just going by what ive heard....the springs will settle...

bsprinker

No, that's $1250 for parts AND labor!!! Parts are approximately $580 (That's Comptech springs and Tokico Blues) and labor is $670. Not $1250 for just the labor.

Is $670 for labor and alignment too much???

CLpower

WAYYYYYY TO MUCHH

a local speed shop should do the install for like 150 MAX!!!

then find a place to do alignment for around 70$.


Out here it's not uncommon to find shops to do install for $50. But the competition is a lot more fierce out here.

scalbert

Yes, $670 is too much.

As for an alignment, some will say wait and others will say to do it the same day. I did my own installation so I had to wait. However, the car was in spec even with the springs.

AQUI NO!

spring install should be 150-300, aligment should be around 60-100. u do the math

G-UNIT

if ur comfortable paying that much for peace of mind, then do it...who are we to tell you what to do with your money...im just sayin i wouldnt pay that cuz im cheap !

good luck

bsprinker

$150 is cheap...for removal of the back seat and everything??? I've got to figure at least 1 hour just to carefully remove and install the back seat into place. At least at the dealership, I can expect them to know what they're doing. For $150-200, I really don't want some 18YO kid ripping out my seat, tossing on the springs and shocks, and then giving it back to me a couple hours later. Then afterwards, I hear all kinds of squeaks and rattles in my suspension. But, at the same time, I don't want to get screwed by my Acura dealership either.

That's why I posted the question in the first place! Thanks for your honesty. However, I think I want my dealership to do the work; so do I call another dealership and get a quote from them, or just call my guy back and say that I've heard that other dealerships do the install for less??

I don't want to get screwed on price, but I also don't want to screw up the relationship that I have with the dealership......They treat me pretty well.

GoldieAlek

jesus dude...if you cool with price then go for it...if not ...then call around 600+ that’s seams to be a lot.

brian6speed

iTrader: (5)

I wouldnt do that if i were u that is way too much. I got konis, springs, and camber front and rear installed for under 200. Id shop around and find a shop who can do it for a lot less.

NiteQwill

Wow, what a rip. That's seriously too much!

Do it yourself, I did a write-up a week ago, search under my name. Save your $1K. Alignment should not cost more that $65.

My friend and I did my suspension in 2 hours.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

If a shop has done TL's and CL's many times in the past, they will know what to expect and do. You will get a good price.

If a shop knows about it, or only has done it a few times, then you will get an expensive quote.

If a shop has never done one, you will get a pretty decent quote.


My advice? Call at least 5 shops.

Around here, 150 is near impossible to find. 200-250 is more like it, and some shops will charge up the ass, in the 350-dollar range. Just make sure you shop around. If they try to tell you they will have to charge more because they are also installing shocks, tell 'em to stick it. It's the same thing, whether you're just doing springs, or springs and shocks.

darrinb

better get some lube for 1250

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Hell, for 1250, lube better come with it.

Mongolian

I paid 360 total for comptech springs and installation. I also went to the dealer first to get a quote and it was ridiculous....

as far as noise is concerned, there is more road noise when u go on the highway, but there is no squeeking sound.

CLpower

the back seat might take 10 minutes to remove. And in all honesty, the dealership doesn't know much mroe then the local shop, and the dealership will probably have some 18 y.o. kid doing it too. It's a spring shock install bro, anyone w/ decent knowledge working at a shop will have ZERO issue w/ this.


How is this gonna screw up your relationship w/ the dealer if you go somewhere else.


But as others will say, if you want to throw away a few hundred bucks and have the dealer do it then go for it. But to let you know, if you have problems w/ it most dealers aren't gonna help you out much.

CLpower

for 1250 you should be getting teins installed and have 250$ to go to the tittie bar w/.

Jamz

tittie bar

greyjhu

I had my Comptech Springs installed by Tischer Acura in Laurel, $1250 sounds like alot of money!!

Labor + CT Springs = $498

I took my car to Firestone and purchased a lifetime, unlimited alignment package for $150.

Tischer also said they will warrant my stock shocks for 100k, since I purchased the car through them, and have the extended warranty. I had 30,000 miled on my car when I had the CT springs installed.

2k1CLS

don't buy a camber kit, you don't need that shit. And they'll probably charge you 500 to install that!!!

NiteQwill

How do you know he won't need it? Camber is car specific, as well as toe. One car can have a 2" drop and need no camber adjustment, while another car can have 1" drop and be off by a whole degree. That's what you find out when you go for an alignment AFTER the install.

JRock

The Comptech springs definitely did make some noises and required more frequent lubing than stock. What REALLY changed things was Comptech swaybars and a set of coilovers... everything starts making funny noises then =p
When taking a slope (like a driveway or whatever) at an angle, the sunroof area would make funky cracking sounds. Never had any problems but things definitely made stress sounds.

Infamous425

dont let them do alignment. just take ur car to les schwab or someplace afterward and get lifetime alignment. its better to get an alignment every 6 months

Nofear6370

I just got Comptech and tokico HPs installed along with my new 18s and tires installed for 360 (that includes the alignment) from STS - WTC. They are located everywhere.

INFAMOUS-TYPE-S

Relationship with dealership?! Like they go home at night and think about how good of a customer you are. THere RIPPING you off!! igt mine done by my mechanic for 100 bucks.

ktgumbo

TL_Type_S

My advice:

I had a TL-S and purchased some CT springs .. lowered my ride.. and HATED IT!!!! you can search my previous thread from several months ago and read all about my frustration w/ the new ride quality:

it was a much harsh ride, MORE INTERIOR ROAD NOISE and suspension noise -- this is very true. The car handled a HELLA lot better, and take offs were INCREDIBLE .. the car just BIT the road and took off .. HOWEVER .. i hated it so much (and the look of it) that i paid the same money ($175) to get it uninstalled and had the stock parts put back on.

So my advice:

Ride in someone's lowered Type S w/ the EXACT type of springs you're looking to buy/install, THEN if you're happy .. buy them and install them at a place other than the dealer. Warranty is crap -- if it's done by a good mechanic, it's all gunna be fine.

You may need a camber kit b/c you may not like the look of the wheels w/ the camber as the car settles with the new springs .. though you technically may not need a camber kit for the drivability of the car.

CLpower

that's a first

CLpower

that's another first

bsprinker

I checked out your previous thread, and my only question is "did you keep the stock shocks installed with the Comptech springs, or replace the shocks/struts too?" Maybe you having only the CT springs made the ride bouncy. I have heard that occasionally, CL's with CT springs and stock shocks "may" have a bouncy ride...but not always. Just re-iterating what I have heard. But I'm sure you've heard that before, too.

And your advice about riding in a CL-S with the same setup is wise, but I don't know of anybody local to the 'Burgh with that exact setup. If anybody is in the Pittsburgh area and has Comptech springs AND Tokico Blues, let me know. I would love to go for a ride in your car. I know Smitty has Comptech springs, but I think he has Koni Yellows. But either way, TL_TYPE_S, I will keep your opinions in mind. Thanks.