I bought my RL after searching for something that was AWD or 4WD, initially this wasn't on my radar, to be honest I didn't even know it existed but after a lot of searching I stumbled on the RL and loved the car, so now I own one. My inability to keep things stock is a sickness really... but I do enjoy it. I'll share what I have done and what I'm going to do going forward.
I'm trying to keep it simple but there are some amazing cars on this site and it's generating some ideas but that's for later.

This is just after I bought it, first thing I did was have the windows tinted.

 

Next up was an easy, cheap modification, remove the rear badges and the air deflector from the sunroof.

 

Next I painted the stock wheels and they looked better since the wheels were scratched up but it was a temporary fix until I got some new wheels. I like the new wheels, they are different than I've seen but at the same time I do think a different wheel would look better and I'm thinking gloss black but we'll see.

 

Next, I had to install a new alternator, several dash lights came on "Warning!" "Failure!" lol I was like WTF. It wasn't too bad of a job to replace it, I had a friend help and that was a really big help having that second pair of hands.

After that I decided to remove the resonator from the car hoping for some "meaner" sounds and better air flow - I did buy a K&N drop in as well.

After you remove the bumper the resonator lives on the drivers side, it took some persuasion to get that out, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

 

Next... I think it was the brakes. It was time to replace so I went with drilled/slotted all the way around. Car stops amazingly well with these brakes. I bought the power stop set up from rock auto.com.

 

Today, new brakes for the front. For some reason I've got some warping going on, Prostop sent me new pads and rotors so just to be sure everything is working properly I'm going to rebuild the calipers, install the new brakes and totally bleed the brake fluid. Pics to come....

 

 

Ahhhh Honda engine mounts

 

Today I got in a new arm rest.
I thought about the 20.00 cover from eBay but I didn’t like how the “leather” didn’t match the car. I went to an upholstery shop, 200.00 to fix it, no thank you.
I went to Acura parts for less and for 89,00 I bought the factory cover, however, I was pleasantly surprised when the whole arm rest showed up! Bam! Best 89 I’ve spent in a while, looks awesome.

Old and falling apart

27 freakin screws to remove.

New hotness and old busted

All done.

 

Did you drop the subframe to change the rear mount?

 

Man that door armrest is such a pain to change, so many screws LOL

 

No, I removed the strut support bar and that gave me the space I needed to remove the mount.

 

I'll take it after messing with those freakin motor mounts. lol Now I have to change the transmission mount. Oh joy.

 

No tasteful mods yet

 

Not sure I quite understand, your car or mine?

 

Nice work on the rear mount and arm rest. I bought the ebay covers but your approach is better. too late now. oh well. lol

 

Well.... the transmission mount is shot, good thing I ordered one, too bad it’s $300.00.

Looks normal

Not supposed to be in two pieces.

 

Ahhh the classic Honda mount failure!

 

Nice work on your car so far.....I wish I had your skills. Question about the brakes........I am thinking of drilled and slotted as well for a sporty look and better braking.....but did u say u had a warping sensation after installing the new set? The brand u chose seems popular on this forum.

 

So, I don't think the brakes are the problem. I've replaced 3 sets in less than 18 months (they replaced them for me each time). I think something else is going on. I used after market axles and now just ordered some OEM axles to see if that changes anything. I've taken it to a couple mechanics and no one can give me a definite answer (axles are used but oem so I'm not spending 1100).

I'll follow up later - back to your question I believe the brakes were fine and there was another issue that gave indications that the rotors were warped.

Thanks for the comment by the way, I appreciate it.

 

Thanks for your reply. I can see wanting to replace motor mounts because they always seem to go bad but why do u feel the need to replace things like the axles? Most of us regular folks would never even think of that. What symptoms were u having? My 06 has 115k miles on it and I have just done
rear diff drain and fill
clutch pack right next to rear diff drain and fill
transfer case drain and fill
tranny drain and fill
oil drain and fill
all filters
battery
alternator
starter
timing belt and pump
Unfortunately had shop seal me back up,......oil pump seal kit and oil pan $2k down the drain.....
He did one of the motor mounts while he was in there

But other then all of this stuff I am just assuming struts will be next....I do have a slow speed rattle in the front and I see some rubber part at the end of a suspension are that is cracked.....I dont know what this suspension or steering part is called....all I can say is that it is the most visible rubber elbow behind the tires and another hint is that the rubber is maybe even forward of the tire.....I should include a pic.

 

The rubber you are talking about, I think, is the boot for the axle. If that is torn you are most likely losing grease and your CV will run dry and fail at some point.

I decided to replace the axles since I had everything apart already and the after market axles were only 50 each so not a huge deal. Unfortunately I think the quality just isn't there so now I'm stuck trying to back pedal to OEM w/o spending $1,100.

Everything I replaced was due, cracks were showing up in the bushings and at 160k on her it was time for some love.

 

Here is the rubber joint I am talking about........if I turn the steering hard say left I can see from drivers side tire forward in the lower well.......When I looked at these rubbers before I saw they were cracking and sprayed them with 303 protestant. What would you call this joing and these bushings???? Let me see if I can include a pic.

Thanks

 

That is your lower control arm bushings. I recommend you change the lower arms Otherwise it will affect your tires.

 

Damn....just bought new tires.........I am not sure if this is a simple diy or if I need a shop to do this.....have you done it already? Is it just a bolt on?

 

I would say it's simple, it will take couple hours if it's your first time. I would buy parts from rockauto and take it to a mechanic. If you have right tools and time you should be able to do it.

 

Havent found any vids on RLs on YouTube but just watched a couple on Honda Accords which looks the same. I have never done any suspension work. I am handy with a wrench and do have the tools.....but the job looks a bit sticky......I will assume that bushing that is cracking is pressed in and nobody has come up with a way to just press another rubber bushing in? Would I need an alignment after doing this job?

 

i think you should get an alignment, i don't think pressing bushing is a good idea as you have a ball joint as well and it's not replaceable. You would have to buy the whole arm if you want to do ball joint.

 

Okay, I think I fixed the vibration. I bought some used OEM axles and swapped those in for the after market brand new set. 100% better so far. I can't explain how excited I am that this vibration is GONE. Good lord that was horrible.

 

Still strikes me as odd to have to replace axles under 200k.......I am having a rattling suspension noise that is driving me crazy enough to sell the car. Yes I can take it to a shop and have them replace the control arms but whats next with this darn car! Now its making this noise at the shifter when I come to a stop....like maybe whatever the shifter is connected to has a bad mount which is causing my shifter to move slightly when coming to a stop which makes the surrounding plastics make a noise. I dont think I want to invest in an entire suspension and motor mount rebuild on this car as much as I like it.......since I can to the work myself it isnt cost effective to own the car.

 

I didn't have to replace them, I chose to since I had everything apart - I'm a little odd like that.