2001 CL-S with 111k miles. Daily driver on LA fwy's with out of town trips 2-3 times a year. Still feels good with no uneven tire wear. Sometimes seem harsh at road breaks. No visible leaks at the shocks and passes the "bump" test. Will new shocks make me fall in love with my ride again? Will probably keep car until it turns to dust, or the resale goes up.

 

what are you hoping to achieve? if your on original shocks, you probably could benefit from new shocks.

Shocks wear out slowly so you dont know how bad they are until you put a new set on.

 

I replaced my shocks at 150K miles... I looked around and OEM shocks where like $75-$85 each so like $360.. So i found A B&G suspention (shocks and springs for $440) and it lowered the car a inch and a half . All I have to say is WOW u do not realize how bad your shocks get cuz they go bad gradualy over time not overnight. I figured if I am gonna pay someone to replace the shocks might as well do the springs also , they quoted my cheaper with shocks and springs cuz they did not have to take the old one apart so it was fasted and 30 min to a hour less to install. Tou have to buy the boots and mounts and stuff but those are cheap.. I fell in love with my car after i did the B&G then MOOG sway bar links polyurithane bushings and Progress Rear sway bar my car is a brand new car.. I was thinking bout selling it b4 i did this now Im deff gonna hold on to her for 2-3 more years its going on 10 years in march i had her so whats anouther 2-3??

 

Just looking for the new car ride to come back. Did the sway bar thing when the car was new, it was still a boat! Front wheel drive pig is not something I want to invest suspension $$$ in. That is for the RWD IS300. Thinking of Tokico low pressure twin tube. IS300 for playing in the canyons and CL-S when there are long highway miles to travel.

 

if your still stock height, any aftermarket shock will do. Doesnt have to necessarily be a performance shock like tokico, it could be monroe or KYB or example.

 

Has anyone who didn't want to lower their car just replace the factory struts and/or springs with OEM Acura parts and have it improve the ride?

 

like replace worn OEM shocks with new OEM shocks? might as well go aftermarket and save yourself money.

 

No.... like replace the Type S shocks and springs that have 120k miles on them with new Acura type s springs. A little under $700 for that option or $400 for just the struts ...... so really about the same price as aftermarket. Not really sure what the car drove like when new so I have no comparison.

 

where are you getting your prices from? got my springs and shocks for 400 and yes they were aftermarket

 

wasn't it $440 to be exact

 

you dont need to replace the springs, if you do just get something with a slight drop.
as for shocks, im sure you can get a good set of performance shocks for that price. did you look into something like GR-2s?

 

Keeping stock springs/ride height, which shocks from Tokico and KYB are considered a step above the OEM shocks? Over the years I have always just put on a set of Koni Reds when replacing shocks. No Reds available for the 2nd generation CL-S.

 

I could easily do the regular Tokico's, but I have really been thinking of stepping up to the Tokico Illuminas. If I had to lower it I would only want to start off with something that would be 0.5" because I load it down when I have to travel.

 

A step above would be Tokico HPs (blues). KYB GR-2s are crap for lowered suspensions and blow out when lowered. Although KYB AGX shocks are very good with the external valved dampening adjustments, they are a step above the tokico blues and compete more with tokico illuminas.

Also I think I heard that the blues will lower your car just slightly cause they are a bit shorter then OEM shocks. Not a big deal if you ask me but FYI.

 

Acura OEM replacements or KYB GR-2.
I notice that the KYBs are the same part number for both the CL & the CL-S. Are the OEM Acura the same for both models?
I seem to remember the CL-S being advertised with firmer shock valving? Getting new tires and alignment next week and figure I might as well do it all at once.