Hi guys, first post here and need some experienced advice.

So I have an 04 TL that I bought brand new the end of 03 and it now has 190k, and it has been a great other than a Tranny replacement at 96,6k (covered under warr) and a steering pump replacement last year. I drive it hard but also take good care of it and replace parts actively.

My problem: About a year ago I started to feel the car tracking on every seam on the road, not bad but thought it may be the tires (changed the tires and same problem). As time passed it seemed to get worce, and around wide sweeping curves the steering felt slopy and went from tight to soft as I went around.

I have had many look at my suspension and it appears to be tight, however it still feels a bit sloppy in the steering wheel and not so responsive. At time it feels as if the tires are low.

I drive it pretty hard but take good car of it. Any thoughts on this?

 

Odd how I cant seem to find a answer for this. But I guess not many have 190K+.

 

So your saying your suspension looks fine meaning like your steering tie rod as well as all the shocks and springs?? 190K.. That's awesome!!

 

Did you check your tie rod ends and lower ball joints?

After 9 years and 190K miles, all of the rubber bushings in the suspension are probably very worn.

Props for keeping your car that long and putting it to work.

 

looks fine, steering tie rod as well as all the rubber bushings. I have replaced most of them over time and have been to multiple shops that say the car is fine. I have not replaced the shocks, springs since i dont get any bounce and it still handles well. I just feel a disconnection of input from the tires to the steering wheel.

I get a wobble in the steering wheel at launch and it just doesn't feel that tight/responsive.

I just replaced the motor mounts (urethane) and will be replacing the transmission mounts. Nothing visually wrong from what my mechanic can see.

2 possibilitys I have herd.

- Steering pump may be over pumping/inconsistant (replaced recently) but seemed to hapen not long after I replaced it???

-Rack may be shot/warn. But we cant see inside.

 

Tie rod ends and lower ball joints are good too.

 

Anyone?

 

I guess ill look for an Acura forum.

 

Good Luck with finding one as active as Acurazine! If you searched you'd see that the issue could be a few things here such as the cracking/bad bushings that people are having on the lower arms of the suspension. I believe it's called the compliance bushing.

Also check your shocks/springs and make sure one isn't blown.

 

Tracking is usually tire related:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

How are the end links and have you checked the rear suspension/alignment?

 

Thanks guys!

I had the lower bushings replaced, and shocks checked out, alinement is good.

I think i have narrowed it down to the rack, but since I cant look inside ill just have to replace it and see if it gets better.

 

So I brought my car in to Acura and after they said there was nothing wrong with the rack and that there was nothing wrong with my steering I told them if they couldn't find anything they needed someone else to look at it.

After quite some time of checking the car out they found there was a small leak from the rack and suggested I replace it.... lol

I should get it back in a day or so, so hopefully all is good.

 

^ damn sounds like they might have just made that up to make a few bucks off of u ... hopefully it fixes ur problem

 

i would say it is compliance bushing problem...

 

If i could think of anything else it could be I wouldn't have pushed so hard for them to really look at the rack. But I have everything else looked at by multiple mechanics.


I know the owner of the dealership, so they aren't going to make much.

 

Unless this can be close to imposable to diagnose (like the rack which is sealed) I dont think this is it. But then again I never herd of a compliance bushing. lol

 

Acura got the rack in and it improved the feel quite a bit till it started leaking power steering fluid....

Now they are looking at it again, i still get a little wobble in the steering but that may be due to a slightly bent rim.

 

Leak fixed and car feels like new. Now for some rims and tires!