Hi folks,

I actually own TWO 3G TL's.

I have an uber clean, low mileage 2006 Acura TL that I recently bought out of the west coast (one owner, dealer maintained, < 70k miles). No accidents nor any evidence of previous issues from the service records. I ALSO have a high mileage 2005 TL (which I'm in the process of selling). The frustrating part is the steering on my 2005 (with more than double the miles) is fantastic! It has a very luxury car like feel. Car seems very planted and stable.

Problem: On my much newer 2006 TL, I seem to feel every bump in the road being transmitted through the steering wheel. I also find myself constantly "adjusting" the steering input to keep it going straight. If I were to describe it, I feel like I'm getting a lot of "garbage" being transmitted through the steering wheel. Way more than normal. I'm used to driving sportscars, and "feeling" more of the road, but I think there is a difference between what you want to feel (for driver communication), and the level of "garbage" I am feeling. Please also note, the steering doesn't have any excessive play in it... I just am feeling every bump and vibration in the road through the steering wheel for some reason.

I've climbed under the car and everything seems nice and tight. Underside is clean enough to eat off of. I also asked the dealer to note anything they found suspect or worn out when it was in for a recent oil change, and they couldn't find anything other than some slight wear to the front compliance bushings (which I am told should have no material affect on the steering feel). My other car has much more wear on the same part, and again... the steering is fantastic!

The dealer just told me "The TL is a sportier car and handling will be less refined". I'd buy that line of BS, if it weren't for the fact I own another of the exact same model and it feels totally different.

Anyone else had similar issue or experience? Can anyone point me in the right direction of where I should look first?
I feel like there must be a ball joint or bushing somewhere that is worn or in need of replacement... Just not sure of where to look.

Any input greatly appreciated!

 

lower control arms bushing perhaps

 

Well if you have to adjust the steering to keep it straight, that's wheel misalignment....in tandem with the fact your tires could be work unevenly. Speaking of tires, depending on the type, you would have a noticeably different feel between say Michelin Pilot sports and Wal-Mart's deal of the day....

Honestly, in my '06 I feel the road a decent amount - I just figured that's the way the car is. My bushings are worn too, and technically in need of replacement....if that makes any difference.

 

Three thoughts:

1. Tires (as also suggested by TheSauceBoss)
2. Alignment
3. Perchance, is your 2005 an automatic and your 2006 a 6MT model?

 

Both are automatics.

This set of wheels and tires were new as of a few months ago. Fairly decent Kumhos I ordered from Tire Rack. Certainly not Michelin Pilot Super Sports, but not Wal Mart specials either.
The thing is that this wheel / tire package was on my other TL and I swapped them over to this one about a month ago. Didn't have this issue on the '05, so I think that rules out the tires as the issue.
Steering also felt this way on the '06 with the previous half tread Michelin all-seasons that were on it.

I'm getting an alignment on it by the Acura dealer tomorrow. While that may avoid me having to make "corrections" I don't think it's going to make any difference in the vibration and harshness that is coming through the steering wheel, but will report back in 24 hours to see if it made any sort of noticeable difference.

So, would worn "compliance bushings" have any effect on steering feel??? Is that a bushing that is pressed into the lower control arm??

Bad ball joints or tie rod ends?? Seems odd with this low mileage, and when I had the front end up on jack stands, I was pulling around on parts when the front wheels were off and nothing felt noticeably loose up there. But, perhaps that's something that could still be loose and just not noticeable by my tugging with my hands. Parts are obviously under all kinds of loads when driving on the road that I can't replicate with my bare hands.

The only other thing I can think of is that perhaps the steering actually becomes more "luxury-like" as the car bushings become more warn out.... So, maybe my 2005 drives nicer to me because it's lost some of it's 'edge', while the 2006 is still tight and transmits a lot of noise vibration and harshness, as such? Just a possible theory. I just can't believe a 'new' car would have been engineered to drive this poorly or have that much NVH transmitted through it. Seems odd, but I'm not exactly super impressed with Acura's suspension tuning / engineering. I was given a new TLX as a loaner last time my car was in for service and thought to myself "Acura should fire it's entire suspension engineering department, then they should fire their styling department, and last fire their product development group." Other than the one's that worked on the NSX, of course.

 

If you're getting excessive vibrations, I'd look at shocks, bushings, tie rods/steering, ball joints, and wheels.

 

Thanks WDPanda... I do feel like the shocks are starting to go. Compression side at least. Thinking about those Tein Advance-Z coil overs to get something slightly more "sporty" feeling. But, didn't think that would have any effect on the steering.

If I am getting into replacing a whole bunch of stuff, I may just sell it locally and get into something I really want to own, like an M3. I bought it to "tide" me over till I could buy something fun again, but since then I'm thinking I'll never really be satisfied with anything on that plan.

 

M3 will be a world of hurt. You must marry that car to enjoy it.

 

Yeah, but the car is light years better in every way... except "cost of ownership". That is totally different, of course.
///M = Money

Oh and the dealer fully checked out all my steering components and couldn't find anything that wasn't tight as a drum. Really confused why I get so much "garbage" through the wheel. Oh well, maybe a proper alignment will improve things. New shocks might help.

 

Hands down one of the most fun cars to drive indeed. It kicks its backend out with so much confidence. Only if it wasn't made of plastic.

 

It's just the cost of maintenance that scares me on these. I've seen people with service bills in the $4-7k range for not really out of the ordinary items.
I found that mine with coil-overs and dedicated summer ties, was the sharpest tool. Downright amazing!

 

Okay... Update... I had a proper alignment done on the car at the dealer last week and then swapped over to my Birdgestone Blizzak snow tires (mounted on new Type-S wheels) a few days after that.
That combination has made a world of difference in the ride quality and feel, even in the steering!

I still feel like I get too much "distraction" in the wheel, but it's WAAAY better now.

I think I'm slowly realizing I'm not a fan of the Kumho summer tires I bought. They don't handle up there with what you'd expect from a dedicated ultra high performance tire and the ride is terrible. Wish I'd stuck with Bridgestone for my summers too. Live and learn.