eujinc

Just got back from driving school yesterday. My TL is completely stock and I wanted to see how it handled when pushed to the limit. One disturbing thing that I discovered was the performance of the brakes. I was really pushing the car hard towards the end of the day and I got massive steering wheel shimmy. First thought was the rotors must have warped. After that session, I let the car cool down (you can actually feel quite a bit of heat radiating through the rims). Then went out again. First several laps, everything was fine. Then after some hard braking the shimmy came back. Ok, so did the rotors warped, then unwarped, then warped again? Or does this have anything to do with the brake pads instead? Has anyone encountered this phenomenon? All lugs have been torqued to 80lb-ft prior to the event. Today, everything seems back to normal. No shimmy under normal or hard braking although the brakes now feel quite mushy (got to bleed them soon).

Overall, there is definitely lots of room for improvement especially in handling but the car was very predictable and forgiving. Now it is all the more justifiable to get the sways, springs and tires.


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2000 Acura 3.2 TL (Nav) Nighthawk Black Pearl

PhiTL

Hey I just got back from the NJ AutoX novice driving school too. Man that was a long ride from MD to NJ.

I didnt feel the vibration after a long day of driving but from the start my brakes was really soft. After pressing all the way down it was close to the floor. I almost wasnt able to run today. Anyhow, one of the instructors recommended flushing and bleeding the brakes again. Also, he recommended an aftermarket brake fluid like "Motuls" orsomething like that. I think I am going to give that a try some time later on because it is really soft.

Anyhow, where did you go for your driving school? Mine was Englishtown NJ.

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'00 White Diamond Perl w/Nav
Wings West Spoiler
Comptech Exaust
Rear Comptech Sway bar
H&R OE Sport Springs
AEM CAI

eujinc

PhiTL: The MWCSCC website is at mwcscc-ax.org. The site has a lot of info on auto-x and links to car clubs around the DC area. I used to autocross my Civic in the C Street Prepared class. This was a couple of years ago and it was mainly for fun rather than for championship points. There is also a local newsletter called the Stopwatcher that lists all autocross events in the area.

Autocross is definitely a lot of fun. Only thing is after awhile, I found that I didn't get as much bang for the buck ($20 or so for only 3 runs!). I'm currently hooked on driving school. The Friday at the Track event at Summit Point is really fun. $175 for an all day event where you can drive till your car smells funny. Check out the site: www.summitpoint-raceway.com



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2000 Acura 3.2 TL (Nav) Nighthawk Black Pearl

Shoofin

Stock brakes SUCK A$$!

Ed

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Acura-TL.com - Forum Moderator

'99 TL Satin Silver/Ebony, Non/Nav, Comptech lowered, Comptech Air Filter Element, Inspire Tails, AEM Brake Pads all around, Comptech Axle Back Exhaust, "Guy Smiley" doll on the dash as my Co-driver...

Pics of my TL
Pics of my Miata! Wadya think?

eujinc

Allan, to be honest I haven't gotten around to bleeding the brakes of my TL yet. I have done it many times on my Civic and Integra, and from the the Service Manual, the method for the TL is no different except for the bleed sequence. The sequence for the TL is the front left, front right, rear right, then finally rear left. The way I did it was to first remove the wheel. This gives a better view of the bleed screw. This screw is located a little behind the rotor and is covered by a rubber cap. Remove the cap and you will see the tip of the screw which looks like a nipple (I think it is really called a nipple). Use a clear hose to fit over this nipple. If you can't find a hose, a brake bleeding kit from any auto store will be your best bet. The other end of the hose should be placed in a container. Before you start, make sure your brake reservoir is at the Max level. Whatever you do, do not get any brake fluid on your car. If you do, immediately wash it off with lots of water. Have someone pump the brake pedal then apply constant pressure. Place a 8mm wrench on the bleed screw (a box wrench make it a little easier) and loosen the screw. The fluid, together with some air bubbles should start coming out of the hose. At the same time the person applying pressure on the brake will feel it going to the floor. Once all bubbles are gone from the hose and only brake fluid is coming out, tighten the screw, put back the rubber cap, reinstall your wheel, fill up the brake reservoir, then move on to the next wheel.

Disclaimer: If you are not sure of how to do this, by all means get the dealer or a professional to do it.


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2000 Acura 3.2 TL (Nav) Nighthawk Black Pearl

eujinc

Englishtown is quite a bit of a drive for an auto-x school. The Metropolitan Washington Council for Sports Car Clubs (MWCSCC) and the SCCA used to hold auto-x events and clinics at Ft.Meade off Rt 32. How did your TL do in the auto-x? The school I went to was in Summit Point Raceway, WV. It's on a 2 mile, 10 turns road course. I felt some brake fade but the pedal didn't go too close to the floor. Only the steering wheel shimmy was the most annoying thing that happened.

One of my instructors also mentioned Motul brake fluid which I believe has a DOT 4 rating. I'm not sure how's that going to affect the ABS system so I'll probably stick with DOT 3 and bleed the brakes if I start getting any fading.


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2000 Acura 3.2 TL (Nav) Nighthawk Black Pearl

liutang

What do you expect from stock brakes?

PhiTL

Where can I get more info on the MD AutoX clinic? I live very close to Ft. Meade and would love to travel a short distance for AutoX.

I think I did ok at my first AutoX experience. Honestly, I think I still have a lot to learn. But it was definately a lot of fun. I went up there with a few friends (2 S2k and an integra). But we have a buch of other friends in the MD area that AutoX's on a regular basis, you should join us sometimes.

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'00 White Diamond Perl w/Nav
Wings West Spoiler
Comptech Exaust
Rear Comptech Sway bar
H&R OE Sport Springs
AEM CAI

[VTEC]TL

eujinc: How do you bleed the brakes??? My brake pedal feels quite mushy too.

Allan

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Y2K Satin Silver/Ebony 3.2TL
AEM Short ram w/ custom CAI conversion | Magnaflow axle-back exhaust | Neuspeed Sport springs(modified: 3.5"F/3"R drop) | BOSCH platinum+4 spark plugs | Acura OE Wing | Mesh grill and bumper | Headlight finishers | Acura Indiglo Emblem | Mugen badging | Body color door handles | Polarg M12 sidemarkers | Opti-Blue Xenon HB's | Hiper Strobes F/R | 20%/35% Llumar Platinum tint | Razo RA42 Shiftknob | Alloy pedals | Blue neon exterior lighting | Rockford 10" RFP2410 Punch XLC subs | Boss Audio CLR60 600wt. 4ch. amp | Escort Passport 7500 Radar/Laser detector