wilspainar

I took my car into the dealer last week for noise in the front suspension. The car is still under warranty so they were going to replaced the front shock assembly. Yesterday I was called in and they informed me they can't replace the shock assembly yet because there is a TSB out that they have to perform. The parts for that are not available until June 30th. So until then my car will be pretty noisy while going over bumps. I am assuming these parts are not replaced often?

demosan

Did the dealership service Dept. happen to mention the TSB number they had to install before strut replacement?? I am about to bring my 2014 Advance to dealership for same issue.
TIA Demosan

pgeorg

This the TSB, that is posted in the Official TSB thread:

TSB 14-040 was revised today. Mods to update post #1 with the updated information below.

TSB 14-040 - Front Suspension Clunk or Rattle When Driving Over Bumps
Applies To: 2014–15 RLX (Excluding RLX Sport Hybrid) - ALL - ALL
http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/B14-040.PDF
http://techinfo.honda.com/Rjanisis/p...nu/B14-040.PDF

pgeorg

I think that is unacceptable! Plenty of 2014-2015 RLXs out there with this problem, that need to be serviced!

wilspainar

Tell me about it, they said there is no safety concern just an unpleasant ride.

wilspainar

So the sport hybrids have a different front suspension it seems since they are not on that TSB.

pgeorg

I don't think the SH has different suspension components, I believe the extra weight of it helps for the noise to not happen......
I am sure others will comment on this as well.

wilspainar

Extra weight from the different transmission?

pgeorg

From the batteries....

wilspainar

The batteries are in the rear though, which why I assumed since the problem is up front that maybe the shocks were different on the hybrid because of the transmission.

TampaRLX-SH

But the batteries better balance the weight distribution of the car. The PAWS FWD is 61/39% whereas the SH is 57/43%. The extra weight up front of the PAWS model may make the suspension less capable with that weight, especially if the suspension was calibrated with the SH configuration in mind. Further the batteries and the intelligent power unit in the center tunnel of the car lowers the center of gravity. Aside from power, the two models ride very differently.

TampaRLX-SH

Consumer Reports hammered the RLX in 2014. The primary gripes were the brittle and loud suspension. That report was repeated multiple times under the guise of other media (i.e. Forbes 10 Worst Cars). I do think Honda deserved the criticism, as the quality issues were prominent in the Honda & Acura products of the circa 2014 period. However, they have been corrected and even CR has raised the RLX as a very reliable, better than average quality since the 2016 MY. But that is not spoken, and the first impression rule has sunk this car's popularity potential. The silver lining is those who have researched the car an patiently waited are being rewarded with some astonishing pricing. In terms of the SH, I still believe it is more car than sticker, never mind a $10K discount.

And I do not believe Honda is willing to invest in correcting the 2014-15 models with this condition as the fate of the car seems sealed. If any aftermarket vendor designs and offers an aftermarket replacement for the front struts (and mounting hardware), they will likely exhaust the small market of 2014-15 (ang maybe even 2016+) of RLXs. Problem is, does the car's volume justify the investment.

wilspainar

I see, why wouldn't acura just use 2016 struts on the 2014-15 models? It's the same chassis it's it?

wilspainar

I did contact Tein Suspension yesterday. They said they can make a custom set of coilovers starting at $1500. If I get a 2014 Hybrid I will probably get a set.

George Knighton

They're going to be using what they've got on the shelves to approximate what you need. I hope you don't mind my being frank, but I wouldn't do that.

The OEM Honda suspension on the KC2, both early and late, are probably better than anything Tein would be willing to put together for you for 1500.00.

I know Tein's an old favorite of OG Honda people from the 90's, but I think their day is done.

George Knighton

You know, there's only a very few shock absorber factories in the world, now.

And they're not in Holland or Japan. :-)

Even the most expensive Showa units are made in these same factories, but the quality monitoring and specifications are different.

They'll build whatever you tell them to build, and they can make it cost whatever you're willing to pay.

KenRLX

I had to look carefully at this thread to make sure I wasn't seeing something from 2014....A few comments:
At least for my car, IT IS the dampers... microphones placed around the car are dead quiet except for the top of the shock tower.
The acura rep in CA said there are often running changes with no part# changes. He also said the TSB damper kit has gone through several significant changes, except for part number.
So if getting a TSB kit, make sure the build is quite recent. (From the OP, I would think at least May '17 or later or so.)
As far as the vaunted SH dampers, I bought a set of those from Acura.. boy did they clunk!!! The dealer even said they were awful when they put on a new kit (the 6th set.)
This most recent kit is indeed the best of the lot, but a far cry from any other car on the road in good condition.

And I do suspect it is not the factory making 'bad' dampers. I do think it is Acura demanding a certain type of damping profile that has the bad side effect of pops and clunks. It is actually well known in the auto industry that certain damping profiles are 'clunk prone', and known as the 'loose lumber' or similar terminology. There are quite a few auto industry tech papers describing such noise effects. I know they date back to 2009, and likely much before. I guess Acura is just now catching up.

Good thing is, I don't hear the clunk so much anymore since it is hidden by the timing belt and fuel pump squeals and chirps.

wilspainar

Is it the spring or where the shock meets the tower that is clunking?

pgeorg

^^
I believe its the internal valves and shock itself that is making the sound, from what I've heard. KenRLX will surely know much more on this.

KenRLX

For my car, it is definitely the damper itself. I did some specific troubleshooting for the spring itself, hoping against hope that I could find another cause rather than the damper. (Since the damper is ONLY available from Acura.)
Your thoughts about an aftermarket solution makes a lot of sense to me, since I have already been down that road. The suppliers I contacted all said that the coilover kits would lower the car at least an inch and have a much higher spring rate. Both outcomes do not fit this sedan in my opinion.
Keep the forum advised with your new damper kit. Also beware---give that kit at least 1000 miles and a couple of weeks before you come to a conclusion. The last kit for me definitely degraded and became noticeably more rattle-y, and is consistent with the other kits as well.
If you find an aftermarket source with stock spring rate/ride height, that can be an option that is noise free and suits the car design.

KenRLX

My apologies for the after-thought..
Wilspainar, let the forum know if you discover that there is ANOTHER TSB involved somehow related to the well known TSB-14-040 for the damper kits. It does seem odd that that the dealer seems to have a another TSB in mind that prevents them from doing the 14-040 TSB.
Pgeorg's link to the TSB shows the 14-040 revision date of Aug 19, 2015.

wilspainar

Yes it was odd to me as well. They actually said "corporate" called them and advised not to install it yet until they release the "new" kit in June.

wilspainar

Tein did say they could make a set with the factory spring rates. If I went that route, I would contact swift springs and get those springs using Tein's struts and that would make the ride much better then the OEM can produce. Swift springs are made differently the OEM and most aftermarket springs.

neuronbob

If I were keeping my hybrid after the lease was up, I'd be looking at a suspension upgrade as well. Someone else here went with BC Racing struts/springs, so that's another option.

wilspainar

I would rather go with BC racing. They off swift spring option on their coilovers. How much longer you have left on your lease?

neuronbob

Six months.

Here's the BC Racing kit that was referenced. They do, indeed, offer a Swift spring upgrade for the set.

https://store.bcracing-na.com/dr-ser...016-p5771.aspx

Just recognize that you will be on the bleeding edge, given the miniscule RLX market, and keep in mind George Knighton's comments. He knows of which he speaks from long racing experience.

wilspainar

I contacted Tein because they made a set for that SEMA RLX. I have been reading on their downfall over the years.


Interesting, no I didn't know that. Even Fortune Auto's are made in those factories?

wilspainar

Yes I understand that, I am only getting a set of coilovers if I get a Sport Hybrid. I'm not going to modify this one. If I get a Sport Hybrid I plan on keeping it for a very long time. But not many white ones are forsale, I haven't seen a White on Black one for sale yet. And that one with the seacoast interior sold yesterday.

TampaRLX-SH

I believe you are seeking a used SH. But should you be willing to jump to a new 2017:

New 2017 Acura RLX For Sale | Tampa FL

wilspainar

Yes I am looking for a used SH, my reasoning is because the depreciation on it. I am being patient and waiting to find the one that "fits" me.

neuronbob

Smart decision. Depreciation is horrible on these. It's a key reason I leased. If buying, you have to want to keep it for ten years so that the depreciation doesn't hurt as much. It's too bad, it's really a very capable, powerful, comfortable car. I do like mine still, even with the intermittent issues I have with it.

wilspainar

How is your lease buy out in the end, is it worth it for you to keep it?

neuronbob

Ye gods, no. The buyout is $20k more than the current market price for a low-mileage (mine is 21k miles), 3-year-old, 2014 Sport Hybrid. Buying it directly from Acura Financial at lease end would be a horrific idea because of the depreciation. The only way I'd buy it is to let the lease expire, then buy it directly from the dealer for $25k-ish before they let it go to auction. Serves me right for being the 2nd person to procure a Sport Hybrid at my local dealer after release (i.e. no lease specials, purchased a few hundred off MSRP, ).

wilspainar

Yeah that's why I am looking for a used one, but man $20k more, wow.

neuronbob

Ah, but it works out for you. The 2014 RLX Sport Hybrid is a hell of a lot of car and tech for the mid-to-upper $20k range (my WAG, probably not reality) you should be able to negotiate to soon. Given a choice between a brand new Accord Touring and a used 2014 RLX Sport Hybrid, the Sport Hybrid wins all day long.

George Knighton

I don't understand why people don't "get it" when it comes to the KC2.

I have to buy my cars because I drive way, way too much for any lease. But then, I can still charge the mileage to either the government or a subchapter S corporation, so it hurts a little less.

Interestingly, this is a car that I would consider keeping for longer than I usually keep cars. The thing that bugs me the most about the car's insufficiencies is some aspects of the electronics.

Yesterday, I could not for the life of me re-pair my iPhone until I'd shut the car down and restarted it, to reinitialize the car's Bluetooth.

Very annoying.

(Sometimes with developer releases of iOS, there are weird, invisible changes that make it a good idea to just deactivate and reactivate Siri, and re-pair all your Bluetooth devices.)

KenRLX

June is bustin' out all over.... and hopefully the new damper kits scheduled for this month have arrived.
I am looking forward to feedback with these new units, to see if I should go out and get a (7th) set.

George Knighton

New damper kits?

0_o

wilspainar

I am calling today to see if they have arrived yet, hopefully they have so I can get it done.

KenRLX

Wilspainar,

I know from experience that it can take quite a while for the damper parts to make their way to the dealers.
I am still quite interested in your feedback on the new dampers. Hopefully, your wait will not be much longer.