rosen39

Hi Hand-filer. On the KYB's you used, did they have the same measurements fully extended, and fully compressed as the stock units from the 2013 RDX? On some of the vendors offering these KYB's for sale, it looks like the kit comes with new rubber upper mounts, and a "jounce" bumper (for lack of a better name). Did you also install that part on your install?

hand-filer

Same length extended and compressed, same mounting configuration. Just install everything that comes in the box and you will have a quiet riding RDX.

mc607

Just had mine in for clunk noise on rear driver's side. Only happens on deeper bumps. Dealer replaced shock with minimal improvement. Only other issue is a slight rumble from right rear at low speeds. They are going back to Acura.ca for direction. Will post results. On the vcm vibration, Acura.ca released a Service Bulletin today. Contact your dealer if you are having that issue. I had mine done already and has eliminated vibrations. New, updated propeller shaft.
Hand-filer, thanks for all your insight. Not sure if I want to go with the KYB's as my ride is quite nice except for the odd deep pothole or manhole which results in a "clunk". I assume that your ride was much worse to go through all the experimenting?

hand-filer

The ride was fine, I just wasn't happy driving a clunker.

PS. Tried to respond to your pm but kept getting box is full message.

weather

^^ By the way, are those the accessory wheels you have in your pic? I know they are not the RDX's (2013) accessory wheels...they look great.

KeithL

So the gf got a 14 RDX Tech in November and the last few weeks (probably because I have been it much more now) I notice the rear suspension is chatty, seems to have some noises that are heard and slightly felt when gong over rough pavement. To me it is almost like the rear suspension can not react fast enough and also before it can react it is now reacting in the opposite direction. I have yet to hear or feel a larger clunk as described I part of this thread, but to then we don't drive on very rough roads. She notices it, but is not overly bothered, but me I think it is unacceptable and makes the ride and experience feel cheap. When we go in for first servic we will mention it, but seems Acura should have done something by now since the car has been in production for close to 2 years.

weather

^^ Welcome to what we have been hearing. The way you describe it is exactly how it feels and hand-filer has been a role model when it comes to putting pressure on Acura and taking matters in his own hand....literally!

mc607

Didn't realize I can't use the PM because I'm a new member. If I don't get anything from Acura I might try the am shocks. Did you have any issues with the VCM vibration?

hand-filer

Thanks, they are the prior to 2013 RDX accessory wheels.

hand-filer

I have the issue but don't find it too bothersome. The replacement propeller shaft is at the dealership and will be installed when my next service is due.

mc607

I see that Monroe also makes an am shock for the 2012. Did you look at these and if so why did you decide to go with the kyb"s. Thanks again for your input to this thread. Ever consider a job with an "offshore" car manufacturer?

hand-filer

I did but the build quality is sub par compared to the KYB's

I design automated door and window systems for the transportation sector.
It would be a nice but I'm too close to retirement now so I'll have to settle with being a tinkerer.

Ukalum

Update: As previously posted my RDX had the clunking noise that drove me crazy, but it subsided after about 12 months so I didn't bother taking it to the dealer.

Last night my wife was driving the car and reported to me that the car was launching her over nearly every bump. It appears that the shock is broken and the springs are launching the rear of the car when it hits a bump. Took it immediately to the dealer and hopefully will have a new set if shocks early next week. I'm hoping they agree to replace both rear shocks.

I'm very surprised that this problem resulted in a complete shock failure. I'm interested to know if anyone else has experienced a failure like this yet.

Ukalum

Update: both rear shocks replaced at the dealer. Now the ride is 100% better. Smoother, much quieter, and what I expected from the start. I'm much happier with the vehicle after this fix.

Original shocks were white, the replacements are dark blue.

hand-filer

Odd, my originals were black, the replacements were black and the replacements of the replacements are black.

rosen39

Ukalum,
Can you tell us what the part number is they have on the repair order?

Ukalum

You are correct, they are black, not dark blue.

Part 52610-TX4-A02

rosen39

That is the same part number they used on my replacements last May. I wonder if they ever "updated" the design of the part. Time will tell if these will work. Good luck.

OTown

This thread helps a lot. My dealer said the nose was gas in the gas tank hitting the sides

mc607

Response from Acura.ca "They know there is an issue with shocks and are working on a fix". Well at least they admitted there is an issue.

hand-filer

That's the same response I received last March. Almost a year and they still haven't come up with a fix.
I sent Honda Canada another letter last Wednesday asking why they are taking so long to deal with this.
Everyone with this problem should complain directly to Honda rather than just venting on a forum.

mc607

Will be sending my letter in tomorrow. Agree, everyone with this issue should be letting Acura know about it.

blueorchid12

I have the same clunk and it seems to come from the right rear. Told my hubby I think it is the shock or strut. Also, drove to Oregon, hit a snowstorm and I did not feel warm and fuzzy driving this car. I have felt much more stable in my '77 rear wheel drive Monte Carlo and very stable in my fwd '06 TL and '12 TL. I could have eaten up that snow like nothing in these cars. Since my daughter has a '13 RDX and has never had this issue, I'm thinking there is something not quite right with the suspension system in my '14 RDX.

alpha2beta

Wonder if its the same problem as the new Odyssey and new Accord people are saying glueing the bump stops fixes the problem and Honda is working on a TSB
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-201...ow-ice-12.html

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=171858

hand-filer

If this is what they propose for a fix I'll stick with my 2012 shocks.
The bump stop is firmly attached to the top of the shock assembly. It's not a slide fit onto the shaft as in other designs.
A redesigned shock and a redesigned upper shock mount that does a better job of isolating noise transfer would be more like it.
The service manager at my dealership has heard that Honda is on the verge of releasing the TSB but he's just as skeptical as most of us at this point.

weather

^^ I appreciate all you have done to keep us informed and provided us with options on the matter....I wish I could say as much about Honda/Acura!

hand-filer

Thanks Weather. The end goal (hopefully) is that Honda monitors these forums and uses the feedback to improve the product.

geocord

I know GM monitors the Edmunds forums as I see posts by GM customer service folks attempting to steer people to fixes. Whether strictly for PR or product development or improvement I don't know but it shows they have somebody reading the forums. Does this mean Acura does? No idea. It would be nice to know though.

5 Acuras

iTrader: (1)

I just started hearing what sounds like something rattling in the spare tire well, only at low speeds, going over uneven roads. I don't hear it when I hit pot holes, though? Could it be the shocks? I confirmed there's nothing loose in the spare tire well. Thanks

OTown

Mine got replaced the second time I went in. First time I went in I was told it was gas slopping in the gas tank. A lot better and no more clunking a month on. Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.

Rocket_man

I could have sworn that a long time ago there was an Acura Customer Service rep that posted a few times on here in response to customer issues. That stopped pretty quickly. Then again I might be confusing this with another forum. I think if an official Acura rep started posting here they would be inundated and when they can't fix everyone's problems or address everyone questions then people will turn on them and it would get ugly. I can't blame them for not trying.

I suspect they do unofficially monitor this forum and maybe ToV. If they don't it's a shame since this is one of the best car forums on the interwebs and the best Acura forum period.

There are a few sales reps that post here but in an unofficial, personal capacity as fans of the brand. Their contributions are welcomed, but they have no official capacity to represent this forum to Acura Corporate.

tal

I think I've got this, too.

5 Acuras

iTrader: (1)

It's on my list of things to be checked on at my first oil change appointment. If anyone has any information on this it would be appreciated.

Lorimc

I have had my RDX one week now and I can't believe how pronounced the clunking sound is in the rear. When I go over even the slightest bump it feels like the car is bottoming out. The first day I drove the car I called the dealer to complain that this couldn't possibly be the way the car should run and that I was returning it. Well, they wouldn't take it back and I was told that the ride was normal. After reading posts on this forum I will be pushing back harder for a fix! I will post the results.

Rocket_man

Acura is causing themselves far more damage by this attitude than if they just manned up and fixed this problem. These are only dampers after all, not rocket science. Fix them! Amazing that they can be so stubbornly dumb about this. This one issue has really impacted my enthusiasm for the brand. I wonder if the TLX will have these same rear dampers? That will be a problem Acura.

Spirited Driver

Sure has impacted my decision to stay with Acura. My 3rd and LAST Acura. We are experiencing the same exact damper/strut problems with the ILX (hence the new multi-stage dampers for the RDX/ILX) since day one, and they have yet to address this issue.

Acura has become a compete joke. Was told by corporate on numerous occasions that this is a "normal characteristic of the car". REALLY ACURA?!?! PEACE!

hand-filer

One of the members on this forum whose opinion I hold in the highest regard called Acura last week to voice their displeasure with this issue.
It was explained to them that Acura has been working with Sachs for quite some time to come up with a fix for this and that it will be released soon.
It was also explained that they can't switch suppliers mid stream. Car manufacturers sign long term commitments with the OEM suppliers and they have to exhaust all possible avenues with the OEM first.
I don't think Acura is deliberately avoiding the issue, they are hamstrung due to contractual obligations.
Consider the drive line vibration issue as an example of Acura's desire to do right by the customer. It took approximately 12 months for them to develop a working fix for this and release it.
The shock issue is obviously a more complex problem and it's taking longer to come up with a solution.
I honestly don't think they are avoiding the issue. They're just doing a piss poor job of keeping their customers informed.
My on the issue for what it's worth.

Rocket_man

Personally I think this is just Acura's excuse. Sure they have a contract with the supplier, but these dampers clearly are not meeting Acura's spec and if they wanted to cancel this contract they could have and go with a new supplier. Plus its been what, 2 years now??? Sachs can't figure this out in less than one model year? Acura should dump them for incompetence. Sachs could never argue that in court. Acura is worried less about its reputation than about maintaining a relationship with an incompetent supplier. This is another bad decision on Acura's part. It takes years to earn a reputation, but you can lose it in a second. Acura is not trying to protect its reputation. Some may argue they have a different sort of reputation now. Every time they tell a paying customer that 'clunking' is a normal attribute of an Acura their rep sinks lower and lower. Strong leadership would have fixed this issue long ago.

You also have to assume they found this problem in testing before the RDX was ever released and are still blowing off customers. What happens when their new 8DCT transmission starts having problems? "Yes, the inability to shift into reverse is a normal feature for an Acura."

I will really be interested to know if the TLX has these same faulty dampers from the same faulty supplier. I guess I'll know in a few weeks when they release the list of features. If I see this dual stage damper listed I'll know the cars first major issue before I even test drive it.

weather

^^ Nailed it!!

MEGAREP

Having had 4 Hondas over the years, I feel they ignore, deny, stonewall. My biggest issue was a brake problem with an 08 odyssey & brakes (nothing that important just not stopping) when they finally did the TSB recall thing, it was a band aid, not a real fix. Dealer said this was the best that they could do.
All this said, yeah I purchased an Acura, Honda reliability, comfort and affordability got me back, I just wish they would acknowledge there issues and properly fix them.