test.times

I have a 09 TSX 4 cylinder, with around 95k miles on it. I hear a kinda gurgling, some metal rubbing sound at ~ 15-20 mph. And the sound seems to go away or gets hidden under road noise not sure what the issue is when the car speeds up.

So i took it to 2 places to have it diagnosed and the feedback was - Rear struts are shot.. front on their way there.

And their feedback is to replace both front and back, alongwith tires.

Quote is around ~1800k including front brake pads, as rear were jus changed -- without the tires. Question is, is this a fair price? And if yes what brands to choose for?

Will be taking the car to the dealer soon to have their take on it too.

Any feedback here is appreciated as I am not car repair savvy neither a DIY for cars.

Thanks!

BROlando

$1800 to replace shocks? LORD :dabbing my forehead: my my my.

It may be substantially less to buy a loaded spring/shock from a Honda/Acura parts website (bernardiparts.com, etc), take them to a shop, and have them installed. Loaded meaning assembled with the spring and all components.

If your Acura shocks are blown enough to make noises at 95K, you must be running over some mountainous bumps.

I don't fully trust KYB strut plus...but those are a cheap alternative to Honda loaded units. Shockwarehouse.com has them the cheapest.

The advantage to a loaded unit is a HUGE savings in labour.

iSeeYouTwo

Or just find some OEM take offs with low miles. I see a lot of people installing coilovers on their low mileage CU2's and selling off their factory struts.

test.times

i kinda thought 1800 was high. whats a reasonable estimate?

This is what i have been given......

front struts ~ 200+ * 2
rear struts - ~ 400
labor ~ 500+ for front and rear struts

front brakes - 375

test.times

Thanks for your feedback RB.

The car is just city driven - flat terrain. Should have normal wear and tear.. no crazy stop and go and braking etc.
I looked at the bernardiparts.com, you suggested and did not any option to buy loaded spring/shocks.. See individual parts only.
Genuine Acura OEM Automotive Parts Catalog - Bernardi Parts

BROlando

Go to chassis.

Front shock absorber. Items 2 and 4. See how 2 and 4 encompass the whole assembly?

Rear shock absorber has the same type of layout.

I chose 2011 model year...but 09 should be the same. They look to be expensive. Likely about $800-1k for parts. Ouch.

What brand of parts and what components was the $1800 quote for? If they are using loaded OEM Acura Genuine assy's then its probably fair. If they're selling you an aftermarket shitshock "OE replacement" assy, then bring your own parts from Acura.

BROlando

I am getting ready to replace someone's OE honda shocks at 215K miles (07 V6 Accord). This car has seen massive curb hits and lots of southside Chicago city driving. They just started leaking and making noise. The car was a little floaty starting at 200K.

95K is unusually quick for shocks to be making noise.

Get another opinion first.

cu2wagon

All 4 need to be replaced? Sounds like time for herrafrush jdm-sick yo coilovers!

Because it's mandatory that owning a TSX means you want to slambro. There are those that embrace it and admit it, and then there are the liars.

But really. At $1800 (not $1,800,000, as previously mentioned) you could be into a nice set of aftermarket options if you were so inclined.

BROlando

Lol. There aren't any coilovers that set the car anywhere near stock height (within their setting parameters).

Unfortunately, the 2G doesn't have too many aftermarket shock offerings that I'd actually want....besides maybe Koni Yellows or Oranges. I wish Bilstein HD's existed for this chassis.

OP...Koni Oranges are like $400. There may be a shop who is willing to swap shocks for a reasonable price. That would involve disassembly of your shock assembly...and then re-assembly of the springs, bumpstops, covers, hats, etc onto the new shocks. I would charge about $400-500 or so in labour for that job if I was doing it.

Now that I've looked... $1200 is the shipped price for all 4 shock assemblies from Acura. That comes with all new components, ready to bolt on. My labour charge would be about $200 to bolt on new stock shock assemblies.

I'm only listing what I'd charge for labour as a reference value. A reasonable shop should be around the same values.

There's quite a price difference. But the new assemblies will come with new springs, hats, and other parts. So...something to think about.

notalk

I have a 2011 wagon and was wondering if Bilstein makes shocks for the wagon. I remembered the wagon is the Euro Accord wagon. I looked through the Euro Bilstein catalog and noticed they have HD shocks listed as "OE" for the 2009 + Accord wagons. I don't know if this means the wagon has Bilsteins as standard, and I don't know if this translates to the sedan, but I think (because there's a part number for the Euro Accord wagon) Bilsteins are available in Euro. Don't know if Bilstein US could import them, but, at least for the wagon, Bilstein has part numbers for the car.

test.times

I got 2 quotes which are close to each other. I have to double check the first quote, but the second quote with Monroe parts has ~$1300+ for all 4 struts and $350 for front brakes. I had read here not to get Monroe.. so thats a bummer.
Will be seeing the dealer soon to get their opinion

test.times

Nice catch yeah i meant $1800
and yeah these are for after market Monroe parts as well.... car noise at low speed comes from the rear and I have been told they are shot.
Feedback from shop was struts on these TSX dont last beyond 60-80k miles as they are sports suspension..... how true is that ?? We dont really floor is or drive it crazy... just plain simple to and back to work ...

BROlando

65-70K because they're sporty? The stock suspension really isn't all that sporty. Its just awful. I think 120-150k is likely typical.

Do not buy Monroe's for any price. Especially not $1500. That is the definition of a very bad way to spend $1500.

Your best bet may be to purchase the parts from Honda and take them with you. Don't be shy about this because you aren't car savvy. You just have to be savvy enough with E commerce to place an order.

test.times

~750 to replace the rear struts at the dealer

test.times

You would charge labor of $200 for all 4 struts ??

BROlando

To install ASSEMBLIES generally takes me about 2 hours or less. So yes. $200.

If you brought me just the shocks and wanted the spring and components moved over to your new damper...then $500 is more likely.

test.times

So $1200 for acura assemblies and $200 labor still beats the $1800 or so whats been quoted.

BROlando

Yep

BROlando

I forgot Koni makes FSD's for this chassis. I'd likely do those...and reuse my old springs/mounts. But....I'm talking about my own time and labour.

test.times

I dropped it off at the dealer..