I just noticed that my 2021 RDX has been making this creaking noise at the driver side front when the car is in reverse. The best I can explain is, it's the sound of an old mattress when you sit on it. It sounds like the brushing on my suspension? The shock still seems fine, car runs fine, it's just that when I put the car in reverse and slowly back the car, the creaking noise is there. It doesn't happen when I go over speed bumps or bumpy roads, it only happens when the car is in reverse. I searched online and found some similar issues posted but mine is a creaking noise whereas the issues I found online, they explain that it's a clucking/popping noise, which is not the case for my car. Any idea what this could be?

 

This is normal for the 19-21, especially when cold. Only fix is to replace the control arms.

I can deal with it though

 

Is this something that needs to be fixed? Like if, I continue driving with this known issue, will it damage or cause any other parts to wear out faster and is it a safety concern or is this just more of an annoyance and doesn't have any effect on the car and how it handles? I can put up with the noise if it won't have any effect on the car itself, im just wondering if it's going to cause any of my suspension components to go bad if I don't replace the control arms?

 

Mostly just an annoyance, as long as the ride is smooth and your alignment is not screwy the control arm is working as intended.

 

Lower control arm issue is when you drive through speed bumps or dips on the road you hear creaking noises. I dont know why you say “in reverse”, this has nothing to do with control arms. The noise should happen while you driving the car, forward or reverse.
Never heard anyone having this issue only in reverse, so I would not be so sure its your lower control arms.

 

The upper bushing on the rear shocks will cause the noise in reverse.

 

he said his noise at the front.

 

Yuppppp, just a minor annoyance at this point, not trying to drop $600 for 2 OEM control arms.

 

Dealership quoted me $2k for both lower control arms. Probably can get it done for half at independent shop. Its not a safety issue, this was confirmed

 

Its not normal. They have updated parts that dont do that, but out of warranty might not be worth it

 

I have the tab saved on my phone, AcuraOemPartsonline, part is $264.02. Not sure how much labor is involved but 2K seems silly!

 

I had it done because squeaking drove me crazy, like I have a junky old car. They gave me $600 discount after some back and forth, still sucks that you have to pay for known issue. Its perfect now.

 

I wonder how many hours the job calls for, have to look it up and maybe do it soon.

I just have too much other stuff to take care of, like I need to wrap up some small stuff on my Integra and get it re-tuned since Spring is coming!

 

they have labor hours in the TSB. It includes alignment. Id imagine if you bring parts and TSB to a competent shop, they can do it for cheaper than dealer

 

I'll have to pull it up and look. Oh, I would 10000% be doing it myself. Aside from the alignment.

 

Retail is $380 each, and many dealers (all in my area) charge ~20% ABOVE suggested retail price for parts. You will also need an alignment after the arm replacement. Yeah, buy the parts and have it done by a shop. Not all that bad to do yourself, but many of us don't have the tools, the space, or the inclination.

 

I suggest to read TSB for instructions and list of alm parts. Besides lower control arms, you also need to buy some bolts and nuts. Some of those bolts are not re-usable and you have to install a new one. That should not be very expensive.

 

Online parts sites have them for much cheaper from what I'm seeing.

I didn't mean for everyone to do it themselves, just saying I would do that myself since I am able to. Never trust any shops personally

 

My car still has the powertrain warranty from Acura until 12/2027. But are suspension components included in powertrain?

 

I doubt

 

That was last year in the good old days.
We took our car to the Acura dealer yesterday for a transmission and transfer case drain and fill. They charged 40% above retail for the type 2.0 ATF, 27% above for the HGO-1 transfer case oil and 150% above for the crush washers.

 

I'm terrified how much you got raked over the coals on that!

Fluids for that are like $70 or so retail. Think when I just ordered 6 QTs ATF, 2 QTs DSPF and 2 QTs HGO, from Bernardi it was like $120 shipped.

 

MSRP of one qt ATF2.0 is $13-14.

It happens often that dealers charge above MSRP for parts. Really bad practice.
MSRP already gives them 30-40% mark up to pocket, I guess its not enough…

 

I like the service from http://oemacuraparts.com, an Acura dealer in Arizona. Their price on the ATF Type 2.0 is $9.59/qt, the HGO-1 is $15.09, and the DPSF is $7.40/qt -- these prices are 30% off MSRP.

Bernardi previously had a discount off of MSRP, but seems to gone to MSRP. Might still be better than inflated price from a local dealer. Maybe better than my preferred source, if you live on the east coast, since shipping cost might make up the price difference.

I have also ordered from http://AutoNationParts.com, where the part prices are at a discount, but more like 20%. oemacuraparts.com. Oddly, they would ship brake fluid while oemacuraparts would not.

 

You can save a bunch of money ordering parts online and doing the work yourself, that's for sure.

With a $25. off coupon the price came to $470. The trouble is that I'm not entirely sure of what I got for that. The itemized invoice shows 1 quart of ATF at $19.17 when it should be 5 quarts. 1 quart of HGO-1 at $27.25 and 1 quart of 80/90 gear oil at $11.20 which as far as I know is used nowhere on a 2020 RDX.

 

that seems questionable! You have a pic of the invoice to post up?
did you question them?

 

While oemacuraparts.com shows you cheaper price per qt of ATF ($9.59) vs curryacuraparts.com ($10.36), the shipping costs @oemacuraparts.com are higher. I just priced 5qts of ATF2.0 total cost (including shipping):
CurryAccura: $64.06
OemAcuraParts: $68.74

Both are great places to buy OEM parts, I've used both in the past, but the one with lower price wins.

 

Here's my last order, it was actually more than I thought, with shipping it was closer to $150

 

I will start a new thread.