Type-S MT Suspention VS. A-Spec Suspension
 

Hello all:

I've searched a couple of times with a couple of different key words but there hasn't been much discussion (that I could find) on a comparison of the Type-S suspension vs. A-Spec.

If it has, I'm really sorry!

Moving on:

Is there even any difference? I though I read somewhere that there is an A-Spec suspension different from the stock Type-S, and that the ride is a little firmer but helps with roll dramatically. Is this correct?

the aspec suspension drops the car about an inch.

i believe that 04-06 6MT and the 07-08 TYPE-S have the same shock, or should I say the same amount of firmness.

I know for a fact that my 06 6mt is stiffer than an automatic.

what exactly is a-spec...is it a aftermarket thing or can you buy a aspec tl from acura?

aspec = ACURA SPECIFICATION

Acura made it.
there were aspec TL's sold new.

just today i saw an aspec TL in the parking lot in my school. its the 04-06 TL with full a-spec lip kit, a-spec rims, and wing spoiler, and has the rare a-spec badge on the trunk. 6mt too

im gonna have to look up the part numbers to double check that

^if you looked inside, the steering wheel would be an apec'd wheel

i will check for the a-spec wheel if its still in the parking lot later. what does the a-spec steering wheel look like?

the part numbers are different.
but my 6mt def feels stiff, almost comparable to a type-s

the steering wheel is thicker, and has blue stitching and two tone thumb inserts

http://zwww.acurazine.com/forums/pic...ictureid=34523

The A-spec suspension is firmer than the TL-S one and the firmness is about the same for the 04-06 one and the TL-S Aspec ones.

The difference is that the 04-06 6MT have different front shock/springs because of less weight (MT is around 150 pounds lighter) from the AT A-Spec Kit. Most people go with the MT kit anyway for a lower drop.

So then another question is raised - and I think I'm answering this in my head...but there's no separate TL-S ASpec and TL Aspec SUSPENSION correct?

i know the 5at, 6mt, and T-S, all have differant size sway bar also.

I wounder if they also upgrade the sway bars for a-spec on the 6mt..?

yes there are separate aspec suspension kits for the TL-S and the base models due to the weight differences of the engine (3.5L vs the 3.2L) and the transmissions.

both will improve handling and drop the car about an inch at most. though you can install them in any 3G TL, but your desired effect maybe off if the kit is not spec'd for your car (base 6MT, base AT, and type S).

i don't believe they did. aspec was the steering wheel, aero kit, suspension, lip spoiler or wing spoiler and wheels (there might be something i'm missing that is also part of the aspec pkg, but i think that's what came with it) for the bargain basement price of $5K at time of purchase for new TL way back when.

Also- for AT cars there were ASPEC brake pads as well.

Thank you everyone for their responses. Its clear to me now.

Mod you may close the thread if you wish!

Looks like everything has already been answered.

If you want the best that each model TL offered, it would be TL-S swaybars with a-spec springs and shocks, TL-S top hats, and the '04-06 compliance bushings.

Thanks IHC. I read in some of your posts through my searches that upgrading (my) TL-S 6MT rear sway to something like a progress rear sway 24mm would provide even better handling characteristics by reducing roll. So to upgrade the TL-S rear sway to a progress 24mm would be even better....right?

^you read it. do you comprehend it?

Yes.

What conclusion have you came to about the P RSB?

apparently he has come up with none

Georgieboy, did you buy the P RSB yet!??!?!?!?

I don't. At least not the part about '04 - '06 compliance bushings.

What's the advantage/difference '04-'06 vs TL-S?

And which part is this exactly? 51394-SEP-A11? Is there an equivelant for the rear?

'04-'06 use a stiffer compliance bushing than all '07-'08 cars including the TL-S.

IIRC it was a dealer upgrade kit. Sure you could buy it installed, but you could also take in any TL and have them stick the a-spec kit on.

Progress RSB on soft feels perfect on the TL-S.

you wont "feel" the sway bar until ur car is uneven. for example going over a speed bump with one side of ur car like some idiots do thinking it "better for your car." you want to adjust it to balance firmness. if you have a solid sway bar (type s or H&R i think) then you would want to put it on the firmer setting. but only do so if you have a firm shocks and springs too or else the swaybar can rip out of its bolts (i prolly just terrified 8 noobs) shit here comes more questions

This might sound weird but is there someone that lives in the SF area with a aspec suspension that is willing to let me ride in their car so I can get a better feel, I have a Aspec set up in the garage to be installed. But if there isn't really a difference. I rather sell it.

Thx

It's a nice difference. The ride is still good but more sporty. Roll is reduced, dive is reduced as well as squat. But the best thing about a-spec is unlike some aftermarket sets, it improves the handling balance. Similar to adding a larger rsb, it stiffens the rear more than the front so you have less understeer. When it comes to absolute cornering speed, and you had to choose between one of the two, having the better balance will get you around a track quicker than having less roll.

It's one of those things you don't notice until you hit the limits of cornering. While a stiffer aftermarket set will feel like it corners better, push it to the limit and the front end is going to plow in a straight line instead of turning. Push the a-spec to it's limit and both ends are going to be more balanced and the limit is going to be higher before either end gives way.

Keep in mind, better tires will make more of a difference in handling than any suspension mods. I would put a bone stock TL on R compounds up against a modded TL with any suspension mods you choose on average tires any day.

there is definitely a difference. night and day. add the RSB....and life gets a little more fun around corners. just as IHC said...tires can make or break what you can do with the a suspension.

i added aspec...wow. then added a rsb a few months later...holy crap! WOW! you really can't fault the aspec suspension. acura spent time and money to get this suspension tuned for the TL. its worth it. just keep in mind if you're looking for more drop over performance...go aftermarket for your more drop needs. aspec will give you your performance needs with a subtle drop.

whats the cost of the aspec package?

It definitely feels more confident through turns. I can't comment on the firm setting because I'm quite happy with the soft setting. If anything, it feels like the front needs a firmer setup now.

2004-2006 bushing 51394-SEP-A01 $26.18 firmer
2007-2008 bushing 51394-SEP-A11 $13.86 softer for ride-comfort

Take a look at this thread for more details:
04' to 08' front lower control arm bushing failure - please read and look

I'm wondering this as well. Also, I can't seem to figure out what suspensions parts would be swapped out to go from stock suspension to aspec suspension.

aspec suspension comes as a kit for the full damper assembly at all four corners. its a complete swap out for the stock shocks to the aspec shocks. you cannot get the shock and springs separate. the whole suspension kit can be had for $600-$650 off flea bay (usually they are being sold by acura dealers through internet parts dept sales).

sometimes you can find them on BM...there are differences in the kit depending on the year and transmission of your car as well as type s.

there are a number threads here that discuss the finer details of the aspec suspension.

Okay, I choose jan 15, nome, Alaska. I think I'll go for suspension mods that give me a lift. ;)

Wow, someone on an Internet forum who actually understands the critical importance of TIRES in the overall handling equation! :thumbsup:

You don't need to go all the way to R-comps; today's current crop of 140-treadwear ST-class autocross street tires (e.g., Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec, Hankook Ventus R-S3, Toyo R1R, Bridgestone RE-11, Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08) will provide 85% of the grip of R-comps and be perfectly suitable for summer-season daily driving as well.

A question: from a subjective, ride-comfort perspective, is this A-Spec suspension kit (part #08W60-SEP-202A):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350499016367

- firmer than the OEM suspension on the '07 Type S (5-speed automatic)?

I'd be surprised if it wasn't, seeing as how the A-Spec suspension gives up 1/2"? 3/4"? of travel to the Type S. But then maybe Makoto Tamamura's A-Spec suspension has that elusive combination of spring rate and damping that improves handling AND retains optimal ride quality.

I'm also wondering what the "202" part of the part # for the A-Spec suspension kit being sold on eBay signifies, as that doesn't match what's posted here:

http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showp...63&postcount=6

Thanks in advance for the help!

Aspec is the firmest of the OEM suspensions. then type-s, base 6MT, base 04-06, base 07-08 (being the softest).

the 202 part of the parnt # is the latest part number for essentially the same part. it supercedes 201 and 200. this is what the dealer told me.

I think they went to a common Aspec suspension kit for both Type-S and non-S. I'm unsure on this, but I believe that's what the 202 part numbers are for.

I got the 08W60-SEP-202A recently for my 04 AT. Even though I have an AT, I was looking for the MT suspension because I had heard the AT A-Spec still has the front of the car sitting a bit higher than the rear.) The description on the receipt (this was ordered through eBay, but came from an Acura dealer), was "MT KIT SPTS SUSPNION"

Handles well, sits pretty even , lowered the car by roughly 0.5". (I have not checked to see if it settled any further.)

Sorry to reopen a really really old forum. I've need the OEM part numbers for the A Spec shocks and springs for a 2004 TL 6-Speed. Does anyone know cause I did a eibach springs + Monroe shock set up and the shocks are gone in 3 months. So I want the oem shocks. I just want to lower my car a bit. I have no issues with the ride I had. Thanks

^^see post #40.

I agree, you could probably ask for any aspec kit and they will all work the same, there's likely no difference and probably never was.

If your car needs new shocks anyway, Konis will lower your car up to 3/4" and they offer great performance while being less harsh than the Monroes. I really liked the way mine looked with a 3/4" drop in front and the subs lowering the rear about 1/2". It made more of a difference than I ever would have thought. The car didn't look like it had been lowered to most people which I liked but it made the car look so much better. They also work well over the whole stroke so lowering springs won't kill them.

The aspec springs and shocks are a great package and tuned for each other and the car. It's a great upgrade in handling, looks, and dynamics. It decreases under steer which most aftermarket springs increase. It does not lower the car as much as the Konis though.

Brembo to be specific

i tried those part numbers and only the one for the automatic works. i need the updated one for the 6-speed. i went to the dealer, the guy asked me what aspec was, so no help there lol.

i was considering the konis but the a-spec tho...

@IHC but you have koni SP3 and they lower bit more and those are discontinued. The one on the market are koni sport.

I wish I had the SP3 but I just have he regular Koni Yellows.

no. the 04-06 aspec base TL had aspec brake pads on the rear, for automatics only. The manual base TL's alrdy have brembos up front so a more aggressive rear brake pad wasnt necessary

I have the SP3's but Im not sure if they are any better than the koni yellows. I mean SP3's are older and discontinued right? doesnt older/discontinued usually mean not as good?

I think they offered more height adjustments and would accept a lower spring even though the regular Sports will go very low. I have a feeling maybe they weren't worth the price difference to a lot of people. I *think* they were part of a kit by one of out vendors and only by one of our vendors. You would probably have to search back to '04 to find out for sure.

Did yours come with springs too? I can't remember if they had to be bought as part of a package deal. Yours are definitely not worse than the current ones. There were rumors that the non adjustable compression damping was firmer on yours. I wouldn't get rid of them and if you ever do , hit me up lol.

Yeah mine has 5 settings. but to most people, 3 settings is probably adequate because I think its just my 5 settings are in smaller intervals, with the overall range about the same as the 3 setting one. (I could be wrong about this though, I never compared side by side)

I bought them from my friend, who bought them brand new a couple years back, I think around 2010, I think he said it was from one of the vendors on here. He gave me the boxes and everything with the sale. The boxes fit the shocks only, so you can definitely buy them without buying springs. When he bought them he used the shocks with H&R springs.
These are probably going to stay on my car for the rest of its life :tongue:

IHC-yes, the SP3's were sold in a kit a number of years back called the "Neuspeed Supercup Kit" avail with sport springs (1.5-1.75" drop) or race springs, with (2-2.25" drop). Or something like that. The springs were Neuspeed. Am not sure if these SP3's were sold seperatly. Paperboy is correct, the lowest perch is same as the lowest perch on the Koni sports, just more perches in between.

I bought my kit of a local member, who never installed them. It was like $600 for shocks/springs. He chose the race springs, and I didn't want those at the time (I still have them brand new in box), so I picked up the H&R sports. Have contemplated using the race springs on the higher perch, to get a slightly stiffer spring rate. ? Always wanted to ask your opinion on that, cause H&R won't give out there spring rates.

Edit-copied from a link for Koni Neuspeed....

NEUSPEED KONI SHOCK - Developed by NEUSPEED Race Engineering and working with Koni engineers, we have developed a fully externally adjustable gas shock absorber for Acura and Honda applications. These shocks are exclusive to NEUSPEED and fully adjustable in seconds with just the turn of a knob. The NEUSPEED/Koni shocks also feature an adjustable spring perch to level the car (5 machined grooves on the shock body for 5 positions of adjustment) - the most desirable handling position, as well as, a 20mm shorter droop length for use on lowered vehicles.NotesDon't be fooled by companies that offer the same part number with the "Sport" not "SP3" moniker. Koni "Sport" do not offer as much ride height adjustment 2 grooves vs. NEUSPEED's 5 grooves and use a standard length piston rod.

IHC-any input on the difference in the SP3's vs sports, with lowering springs? It seems as tho they are more tailored for the lowering spring with shorter piston rod length. Would appreciate your theory!

Sooo no part numbers? Lol. I have a feeling that aspec for standards might be dis continued. If that were to be the case is it still possible to pick up adjustable koni's? I was told to initially put koni's in should of listen to my co-worker. Lol

^^part numbers are located on the first page of the thread. if those do not meet your needs, then search for the other aspec suspension threads...i know there is a thread with a list of parts numbers (ask me how i know...) within it. however i cannot recall the two existing parts numbers, i know one ends in 202A...the other might be 201B. the question that many have had which was is specific to the MT and the AT.

i bought mine from curry acura and was told the kit with 202A was for MT. this was back in 2011.

08w60-sep-201b is of mt I just got it for my tls. And 08w60-sep-202a. Is for auto.