Got a great deal on a new a spec kit & '09 rear sway bar on ebay from an Acura dealership in Vegas but now want to get it installed at a dealer in NY.. The first 2 dealers I called don't want to touch it bc I didn't purchase it from them & it wouldn't be warrantied.. I still have a few more dealers to try but it sounds strange bc I've read forums where ppl did this repeatedly.. Has anyone else experienced this??

If I can find a dealer to do this, what would be considered a good price for a spec & '09 Sway Bar install in NY? Would it be covered if I purchased an AcuraCare extended warranty along with it?? Thanks again for the info guys!!

 

the quote would be for the a spec suspension kit only & not the body kit..

 

Have a local garage install them for you.

 

maybe you confused them? Don't use any big words and ask them how much to change my shock and springs? That should work

 

AcuraOfManhattan did some aftermarket work for me like change the pulley, gave me quotes on changing springs.

I mean...it's $120/hr and they aren't going to rush it...so the bill might cause more mental damage than a rejection.

Have a local shop do it, suspension isn't as bad as having someone replace the pulley...at least that was my excuse to have the dealer do it.

 

One dealer (Acura Bay Shore) quoted me 6.5 hours of Labor to do the aspec & sway bar.. I also had an inspection to do so he said everything was like $690 plus tax.. That would put a warranty on the suspension so is that good, bad, or in the middle?? I figured it's a little pricey. I have 3 more places to call.

 

I think it's reasonable but that's based on New York prices...I'm sure other places would charge you less.

I think my spring install cost me like $250.

 

Bro, just take it to any body shop, it should be $150 for kit install. $50 for the sway bar. Make sure u get new end- links cuz they normally break upon removal.

 

When you say new end links, do you mean bushings for the sway bar??

 

So my findings were the following:

Acura of Valley Stream - $850 & svc says that's their best price = Eliminated.

Smithtown Acura - $528 Aspec $120 Sway Bar & $119 Alignment.

Acura Bayshore - $650 for everything, this tech seemed the most knowledgeable but didn't specify whether it included the alignment or not.

Acura of Roslyn didn't want to touch it bc I didn't buy the parts there.

Lastly Island Acura (where I went before for service & is the only BBB Accredited dealership of the bunch although every other dealership scored an A+ except Acura of Bayshore which scored an A-)

The svc rep there didn't really seem to know what I was talking about so I told him shocks, springs & rear sway bar like rtr said. They gave me the best price of like $450 (if I remember correctly) but also didn't say if that included the alignment or not.

I was satisfied the 1st time with them although it was for something minor.. & although the svc rep didn't know what I was talking about, I'm sure the tech guys would but I'd just have a how to install A Spec instructions with me.

If this winds up being the price, then would I be wise to go with Island Acura over a standard bodyshop? I figure they would know the in's & out's of the RL (a rare car) plus I'd get a warranty on the install job..

If I added the AcuraCare warranty there, then would this install job be included with it?

Would going to an outside bodyshop jeopardize my existing warranty??

 

Where can I find the best price for the Aspec suspension? I thought I saw someone mention about $450, but all I can find on the web is $580.00.

 

I bought my Aspec suspension on Ebay as well and as long as it is OEM Parts and you have it done my an authorized dealer you will be safe on the warranty issue. The dealer that won't touch it just wants to make more money.

 

I went to an outside mechanic and got it installed (suspension and sway bar) for $150. I really can't justify spending around ~$600 to get it installed, which is like another set of Aspecs. But you are right in that dealers would/should know the ins and outs of the car better than outside mechanics. The fronts are no problem, but for the rears, I pretty much walked them through it (taking out the back seat) and not needing to remove the C-pillar trim..etc like the Aspec instructions say. But who knows...maybe the dealer will follow the Aspec instructions and actually do those unnecessary steps and remove more than what is necessary.

 

is there a link on this site for the Acura instructions? if so, we could just print them out and give them to an independent mechanic..and it should give them the info they need to do it right..

FYI - my local dealer, DCH Acura of Temecula has an online store and I think they have the aspec for under $600... i'm tempted to buy it...

 

In the garage there is an Accessories section with instructions.

http://estore.honda.com/accesssory-i...asp?make=ACURA

 

SSjTRUNKS did you ever get the aspec suspension installed? I've been considering purchasing one myself and would like your feedback.

 

me too me too me too

 

Thanks to fellow Acuraziner DXplicitOne, I was able to get the suspension for $475 shipped from Acura of Reno but it was the last one and that was awhile ago, plus $65 for the '09 sway bar. I only see one aspec on ebay for $590 now plus $55 shipping from an Acura dealer.

As for the install, I got both the aspec & the rear sway bar installed for $540 plus $89 for the alignment from Island Acura in NY, (the svc rep didn't thought that I wanted it on just the rear wheels because I also mentioned the rear sway bar but said he cut me a deal for the front suspension as well since there was some miscommunication). I was upset that they threw out my essentially new stock parts though since I didn't request them back prior..

I don't really know any independent mechanics out here and I thought the piece of mind of Acura certified techs working on my car and a warranty was worth a little extra. Independents out in NY aren't much cheaper unfortunately unless you know someone.

As for the ride, I definitely feel a difference & the way that previous acuraziners described it is pretty spot on. You feel a lot more bumps and the ride is a bit more harsh but the handling is definitely amazing!! The stance looks nice as well. I have my aspec on the stock 17's though so the ride would not be as rough as someone that also adds the aspec 18's..

 

I agree about the change in the ride, ssj.

If I have one complaint about my changeover to A-Spec suspension, it's that I feel some people understated the effect on ride smoothness. The change definitely degraded the ride. i didn't used to feel every expansion strip and little pothole, and now I do. The car also now has an unpleasant fore-and-aft pitching over some highways that have those rectangular 20 or 25-foot long sections of concrete separated by tar strips. One time my passengers were actually making jokes as the car's ride tossed their heads forward and back like those drinking birds people used to put on their rear shelves. Very un-luxury like.

That said, I had a long trip to make every week in the Great Lakes snow belt, and I'd been freaked out by the lack of body control the stock suspension had exhibited in some hairy high-speed situations. The A-Spec put an end to that stuff, which was very reassuring. When Car and Driver track-tested the stock-suspended '05 with the stability control switched off, they slapped the fuel tank against the pavement. I seriously think that wouldn't have happened with A-Spec.

 

You put an A-Spec suspension in a your car now your complaing it doesnt ride like a luxury car??? You are correct, now it rides like a sports car!

Wanna sell it for 100 bucks? I will pick it up tomorrow@!

 

Ha! Fat chance, dude. Though I do respect your enterprising spirit.

No, my motive was just that if people are coming here for information before they make a big investment and a big change in their car, I was concerned that the other posts I'd read here would give them an impression that the handling improvement came at no cost in ride comfort, and I wanted to arm them with more realistic expectations. Stiffer is stiffer, for better and for worse.

 

Thank you very much man on posting your experience. This was my exact worry that I will loose luxury ride I currently have. I understand A-Spec is sporty and has many benefits but I will 100% stay away from loosing the luxury cruiser feeling over sporty stuff not getting younger, you know what I mean >?

 

Does anyone know if the ASPEC setup changes the driving characteristic in the snow?

 

in control of the RL with the Aspec.. I Love the aspec wish the car came like this from the factory!! hope the New RL rides likes this or better and gets a tasteful grille..

 

What I got the A-Spec suspension for was to stop the uncontrolled motion of the body atop the suspension in highway-speed situations where I had to brake and turn at the same time. I've heard, and my experience seemed to confirm, that there's something about Japanese-sourced stability control systems that makes them freak out and act squirrelly when it detects behavior it doesn't expect at opposite corners of the car. With the body strapped down more tightly over the suspension, it's ceased to be an issue, so I feel safer in those hairy Interstate moments.

But yes, the price was the loss of some of that feel-no-tar-strips smoothness. The poster above who said "you turned a luxury sedan into a sports sedan" was basically right. A little more confidence (and driver involvement), a little less comfort.

 

what about the H&R springs on OEM struts. I think that would be in between. stiffer in turns, but still sort of plush on the freeway?

 

Smarter people than me told me that the factory A-Spec was really the only way to go, for one specific reason: Our suspensions are so computer-controlled, they have sensors in the struts that the AWD and/or stability control systems get readings from. So only the factory stuff gives them signals that don't mislead them.

Y'know, on the theory that it's logical to proceed from least costly mods to most, a smart first step before going into suspension mods is a better set of tires. If you still have OEMs, they suck. Some owners have reported that Michelin Pilot Sport M+S, though pricey themselves, deliver much better performance in all conditions.

 

Not really. With good tires, the RL is great in the snow either way.

A member of this board posted a video some time ago that he took of his fairly high-speed run over a snow-packed road. Might have been Tampa RL (which would be ironic, given his handle). It was quite impressive.

 

Have you had your suspension installed yet? If not, could you check the part numbers on the struts for me? I'm trying to figure out if my car has the A-Spec suspension or not. My LF strut has the part number 51605-SJA-A520-M1 on it...

 

i did upgrade tires. i still have the OEM 17s, but put on Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+... wow.. way better grip that the OEM tires!!

now the only decision is aspec suspension or H&Rs on stock struts. I like the idea of a factory part (aspec), but I like the bigger drop of the H&Rs... and I once drove a car with aspiec struts (on 18s) and felt it was really stiff... H&Rs.. from what i"ve read.. would be smoother...

 

I had my aspec in for a couple months on 17" OEM's & notice the firmness but I still like it. The only thing is when I go up & down a driveway more than 5mph, I hear a pop in the front.. Is that normal, a defect in the product, or a bad install job?