Hello all! i am new to ACURAZINE and drive a 1999 acura tl with 125,000 miles. I have searched the thread various times and nothing really answered my question. When i hit bumps there is a hardcore rattle, almost like bouncing noise. Also, when going around a bend on an uneven surface i can feel my rear end shift. Alsmost as if it bounces for a second and then lands in a different place. it feels very unstable, sort of like swerving but not. I just need a simple yes or no if this is my struts/springs or maybe another part of suspension. Thanks

 

Sounds like it to me.

If you stand over your struts, and push down really hard, put your entire body weight on it, and release. If the car bounces more than once, struts are blown.

 

hANDYcaptd, i did what you told me to do on all four corners and the front is more stiff than the rear. The rear bounces a few times (3-4) depending on how hard i push before returning to a stand still. Should i replace all four struts and springs or just the rear? or do i even need to replace the springs at all?

 

Rears are definitely blown.

I would replace all four struts. Even though front is stiffer, the sound you described sounds like they're on their way out too...Did the front bounce at all?

You don't need to replace the springs if you want to keep stock height (unless they're broken of course). Some people decide to lower their cars, while they have everything apart.

 

I need to replace mine as well, how much does it usually cost to do it at a shop? A local mechanic told me it would be like 360 for the rear and 360 for the front. Seems too much

 

^ Way too expensive. It's not even a hard job. I wouldn't pay more than 150 for all four.

 

Normally, they charge about 50 dollars each on labor.

 

Also inspect your endlinks and replace if broken.

 

I don't have the rattle, but I do have that problem of having my rear end shift when I'm going around a bend on an uneven service. I'm at 144k mi., so I decided to get the whole suspension (shocks and springs) replaced. At 125k, I'd say your car is also due for a suspension replacement.