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Quick question for those who might know: Only the front left shock absorber has been listed as available on the usual OEM parts sites for years now. The individual components appear interchangeable side-to-side, but there are separate part numbers for the left and right assemblies. Is this "left" assembly actually interchangeable for either side?
There's a thread on this from over a decade ago, but it goes off the rails and never clearly answers the question. Also not interested in aftermarket options.
That's what the old thread speculated on. There are indeed two part numbers for the springs, but they're not listed or separated on the diagram as left and right (when everything else on the car is).
That's what the old thread speculated on. There are indeed two part numbers for the springs, but they're not listed or separated on the diagram as left and right(when everything else on the car is).
I think it mainly depends on which specific OEM parts vendor website you do your research on.
With that said, on acurapartswharehouse.com the #1 springs are listed as left & right;
the #2 & 3 entire shock absorber assemblies are listed left & right;
and, as truonghthe indicates, the #4 shock absorber unit is listed as one that is applicable to either right or left because the 'required quantity' (yellow circle)
is '2', for either left or right front side. Front Shock Absorber - 2006 Acura TL 4 Door BASE (NAVIGATION) KA 5AT (acurapartswarehouse.com)
So which side is heavier? L or R? (without driver) Is the block sitting more to the passenger side? The block is probably heavier than the trans... So... what do you think? We need a Scale measurement. Hasn't someone weighed their car before on Azine? Seems like I remember someone saying they weighed their car.
Originally Posted by truonghthe
the shock part number are the same. I think the spring rate may be differ because the weight of set by driver and transmission location.
Last edited by Chad05TL; Jan 14, 2023 at 10:13 PM.
On the Type-S automatic, acurapartswarehouse does have 2 separate part numbers for left and right but they are the same price! So, price is not as an indicator for the Type-S automatic if one is more heavy duty than the other...
But interestingly, for the Type-S MANUAL has ONLY 1 part number for the front springs.
likewise, the 2006 Manual has ONLY 1 part number for the front springs.
The only time when a different part number appears for both the L and R springs is when an Automatic transmission is installed.. And we know automatics are heavier.
So I am going to take a guess by saying the Drivers side is heavier. Because if they change the spring part numbers when only an automatic is installed, and they use the same 2 springs for manual cars, And we know the automatic is heavier.. Then I am guessing the drivers side is heavier. Because in 1 case above. the drivers side is more expensive.
As a TEST, I have 2 Type-S Automatic springs in the garage..
I tried to weigh them and they both register 10 pounds but I had to weight myself with it. My scale doesn't do ounces. So they weight very close to the same.
However I set both springs on the floor, with the bottom coil facing the same way, and 1 spring is about 1/4" longer
The longer one might be the drivers side which could be the heavier side, on a automatic...
I am just guessing though since I already took apart the shocks and tossed them
by the way, 1/4" does not seem like much, but in the past, I made a post on Azine where I quoted 2 or 3 sources that say if the uncompressed spring length is 1/2" shorter,, then the compressed length is 1" shorter. So, if it is double, the 1/4" turns into 1/2" when the car is sitting on it. I have not tried it for myself, or verified it, BUT that is what others have said.
What pigtail? You talking about that notch that goes in the groove on the fork?
So why would manual cars be the same and the automatics different? At east that is what I have seen out of the random checks I have done.
Originally Posted by BROlando
The springs are left and right sided, likely due to the pigtail orientation.
The springs are left and right sided, likely due to the pigtail orientation.
Originally Posted by Chad05TL
What pigtail? You talking about that notch that goes in the groove on the fork?
So why would manual cars be the same and the automatics different? At east that is what I have seen out of the random checks I have done.
Typo on my part
The left and right hand shock absorber assy's are left and right handed due to the spring pigtail orientation.
The spring pigtail sits in the shock bottom perch a certain way. I think the upper shock mount bushing also has a recess for the spring pigtail. The shock sits in the shock fork a certain way. And the upper mount has to be oriented correctly to fit in all 5 or 6 holes that are up there.
both a wrapped / coiled the same direction
identical except 1 is about 1/4" taller.(maybe its a flaw? or maybe a slight weight difference in automatics?)
Both springs are straight.. and they both will hit the 5 or 6 holes at the top cap the same way. (If they were lop-sided or leaned, then yes you may have to flip 1 around to mate the other side.. but they are both str8)
The shock may change orientation but the spring winds the same direction with the same number of turns..
The L & R spring part numbers are the same on manual trans cars. But Automatics are different. The structure of the car is the same on manual or automatic. So there is no need to change the spring part number because orientation is different on a manual vs. an automatic.
Truth is.. nobody really knows why... We can both guess.. but nobody really has all the info to make an assessment why Honda has different spring part numbers for automatics
Unless you have a spring compressor to measure the "actual" tension in the each spring..
The only remaining mystery is why the right side assembly is discontinued seemingly everywhere, whether it's 04-06 AT, 07-08 AT, Type-S, or MT. The only store I've been able to find that claims to have the right side is Bernardi, and I half expect an order there would get cancelled when they realize they don't actually have it.
When it comes to the assembly I think the top hats are different.. and maybe the fork is different too. But the fork may be sold separately I don't know right now I am remote just finished running nine miles and a little resistance training. So at a minimum when it comes to the assembly they would sell it separately because of the top hat.
The only remaining mystery is why the right side assembly is discontinued seemingly everywhere, whether it's 04-06 AT, 07-08 AT, Type-S, or MT. The only store I've been able to find that claims to have the right side is Bernardi, and I half expect an order there would get cancelled when they realize they don't actually have it.
I know it's an old post but has anyone figured this out? I'm trying to get the assembly myself and still finding the right side is discontinued.
), then I scour the web for the best price.
