The UNofficial A-Spec Difference Thread
The UNofficial A-Spec Difference Thread
Questions about the kit are asked quite often so I thought I would create one thread to answer all A-Spec lip kit questions.
The full kit consists of the front lip, two side skirts, and a rear lip (6 pieces in total since the side skirts consist of two interlocking pieces).
Up first, here are the three kits offered.
2004-2006 A-Spec
For reference, I've included pictures of my 2004 WDP TL with the kit. Notice how the front lip has the grey piece at the bottom.
2007-2008 Base A-Spec
If you have a 07-08 TL and it's NOT a Type-S, you have a base. Your front and rear bumpers differ from a Type-S, therefore you need to order the Base A-Spec kit.
The 2007-2008 Base REAR A-Spec is the same as the 2004-2006 rear lip. My car pictured above is a 2004 yet has the rear lip from a 2008 Base TL. THEY ARE IDENTICAL.
Also, notice how the front lip DOES NOT have the grey piece like the 04-06 does.
2007-2008 Type-S A-Spec
While the side skirts are the same as the Base TL, the front and rear pieces are drastically different. The front piece covers up half of the front bumper and is very aggressive. The rear piece has wider exhaust cut outs since the Type-S has quad-tipped exhaust and also features a middle "cutout" section that runs horizontally across the bumper and lip.
Big thanks to aznbo187 for posting this a few years back. On the left is a 2004-2008 BASE rear lip and on the right is a 2007-2008 TYPE-S rear lip. You can see the middle section cutout on the Type-S as well as the wider exhaust outlets:
Not the best picture but this sums up the differences nicely:
2004 A-Spec (left) 2008 TL-S A-Spec (middle) 2008 TL-S Stock
Important Notes:
3G Garage worthy?
The full kit consists of the front lip, two side skirts, and a rear lip (6 pieces in total since the side skirts consist of two interlocking pieces).
Up first, here are the three kits offered.
- 2004-2006 A-Spec
- 2007-2008 Base A-Spec
- 2007-2008 Type-S A-Spec
2004-2006 A-Spec
For reference, I've included pictures of my 2004 WDP TL with the kit. Notice how the front lip has the grey piece at the bottom.
2007-2008 Base A-Spec
If you have a 07-08 TL and it's NOT a Type-S, you have a base. Your front and rear bumpers differ from a Type-S, therefore you need to order the Base A-Spec kit.
The 2007-2008 Base REAR A-Spec is the same as the 2004-2006 rear lip. My car pictured above is a 2004 yet has the rear lip from a 2008 Base TL. THEY ARE IDENTICAL.
Also, notice how the front lip DOES NOT have the grey piece like the 04-06 does.
2007-2008 Type-S A-Spec
While the side skirts are the same as the Base TL, the front and rear pieces are drastically different. The front piece covers up half of the front bumper and is very aggressive. The rear piece has wider exhaust cut outs since the Type-S has quad-tipped exhaust and also features a middle "cutout" section that runs horizontally across the bumper and lip.
Big thanks to aznbo187 for posting this a few years back. On the left is a 2004-2008 BASE rear lip and on the right is a 2007-2008 TYPE-S rear lip. You can see the middle section cutout on the Type-S as well as the wider exhaust outlets:
Not the best picture but this sums up the differences nicely:
2004 A-Spec (left) 2008 TL-S A-Spec (middle) 2008 TL-S Stock
Important Notes:
- The Type-S A-Spec front and rear pieces can fit on Base TL bumpers. Modifications will have to be made to do so since the bumpers have different overall shapes and since the Type-S rear bumper has wider exhaust outlets.
- BOTH 04-06 and 07-08 Base front lips will fit a Type-S, but modifications will have to be made
- ALL A-Spec sideskirts are the same. There is NO difference between 04-06 Base, 07-08 Base, and 07-08 Type-S A-Spec sideskirts. Part numbers and paint codes may differ but they look identical and install the same way.
- ALL 04-08 Base rear lips are the same.
3G Garage worthy?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 445
Likes: 67
From: Columbus, o_hi_o
nice thread... however, the examples used may be better if you used non-modded cars with ONLY a-spec/stock parts.
i'm just saying that if i didn't know any better and was new to all of this... i might think based on the pics that all a-spec and TL-S's have black roofs or all 04-06 A-spec kits include a blacked out version of the 07-08 base tails.
just to avoid confusion..
i'm just saying that if i didn't know any better and was new to all of this... i might think based on the pics that all a-spec and TL-S's have black roofs or all 04-06 A-spec kits include a blacked out version of the 07-08 base tails.
just to avoid confusion..
I've always wondered if the 2007-2008 Base REAR A-Spec would fit an 04 TL. That front bumper is SOO much better looking!! Any ideas of what mods would have to be done to get the front end to fit?
3G TL/2G MDX Owner
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 979
From: The west side of the Potomac River
now...if peeps looking for the kit would actually look at this...
thought: post a stock photo of a base TL, then a stock photo of a base TL with the Aspec lip kit. same with the type-s. OR more pics like the last one (the side by side comparisons). i have a few that i took from a local meet, just for my own reference.
otherwise this is a great thread. nice work.
Trending Topics
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Believe it or not, everything yall said I thought about doing 
I decided against putting pictures of stock TLs in this thread because 1) most people can look outside and see what their car looks like and 2) it's easier to find pictures of cars WITHOUT the kit rather than with the kit. I wanted to keep this thread simple and easy to read.
As for all of the TLs being WDP, yes I am biased, but I had a lot of pictures of WDP and I figured it would be easier to spot the differences between the kits if the cars were all the same color. I really wanted to do KBP but that color is only on the Type-S. Sometimes it's hard to see the differences between them with NBP, especially the rear lips.
I'll have a moderator make any changes that we see necessary but overall I think this answers the basic questions that are asked.
I decided against putting pictures of stock TLs in this thread because 1) most people can look outside and see what their car looks like and 2) it's easier to find pictures of cars WITHOUT the kit rather than with the kit. I wanted to keep this thread simple and easy to read.
As for all of the TLs being WDP, yes I am biased, but I had a lot of pictures of WDP and I figured it would be easier to spot the differences between the kits if the cars were all the same color. I really wanted to do KBP but that color is only on the Type-S. Sometimes it's hard to see the differences between them with NBP, especially the rear lips.
I'll have a moderator make any changes that we see necessary but overall I think this answers the basic questions that are asked.
3G TL/2G MDX Owner
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 979
From: The west side of the Potomac River
aspec base and aspec type-s will drop car an 1" at most. nothing special.
there is a thread already on drops/suspensions. i think it's "show me drop". the first few pics of the thread actually show the height differences in order oddly enough. stock, aspec, then aftermarket varieties (modest drops, to slammed).
I'll let someone else do the suspension
Let me go back to turbo_oxide's comment for a second. He said:
I was hesitant to use the pictures I did for those exact reasons.
I looked around for about an hour and had a hard time finding 3 WDPs (04-06 Base, 07-08 Base, and 07-08 Type-S) that were totally stock minus the A-Spec kit. I wanted to use WDP because it's offered on all 04-08 models.
For no reason besides pure laziness, I decided to use pictures I had saved or knew where they were located. Also I'm hoping that people use their common sense and realize that these cars have more than just the A-Spec kits installed
Let me go back to turbo_oxide's comment for a second. He said:
nice thread... however, the examples used may be better if you used non-modded cars with ONLY a-spec/stock parts.
i'm just saying that if i didn't know any better and was new to all of this... i might think based on the pics that all a-spec and TL-S's have black roofs or all 04-06 A-spec kits include a blacked out version of the 07-08 base tails. just to avoid confusion..
i'm just saying that if i didn't know any better and was new to all of this... i might think based on the pics that all a-spec and TL-S's have black roofs or all 04-06 A-spec kits include a blacked out version of the 07-08 base tails.
just to avoid confusion..I looked around for about an hour and had a hard time finding 3 WDPs (04-06 Base, 07-08 Base, and 07-08 Type-S) that were totally stock minus the A-Spec kit. I wanted to use WDP because it's offered on all 04-08 models.
For no reason besides pure laziness, I decided to use pictures I had saved or knew where they were located. Also I'm hoping that people use their common sense and realize that these cars have more than just the A-Spec kits installed
Something is missing...my
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 3
From: New Mexico
so, where can I get some base 04 model a-spec tail lights? I think it looks right for a black car!
Last edited by bibledriver; Apr 10, 2012 at 09:58 PM. Reason: This is just a joke, don't get mad or flame. I know they are off a facelifted model. But, had to have a little fun with you!
Nice thread to reference. I know the difference but it is hard to explain to others. I was trying to explain the difference between the Type-S rear bumper and the one with A-Spec for the Type-S apart from the base TL to a bodyshop. I was trying to explain there are all kinds of subtle differences with totally different parts. They said they work on TLs all the time "I know, I know". Of course he screwed up, AFTER painting everything and didn't order the right parts. (Can't stand when people act like they're the car expert and they know everything and don't want to listen to the owner assuming he is like 90% of people that knows nothing about cars! The way a car is modded should be a clue that you know something.) After 100x of explaining I know he still doesn't get it, thanks to these pics, I can explain it now.
I believe the Type-S springs are a bit firmer but don't quote me on that.
This was posted before on hondanews.com:
Thanks to justinspace for finding that.
This was posted before on hondanews.com:
FRONT SUSPENSION
The TL front suspension is a double-wishbone design with a rigid stamped-steel upper arm and a steel lower arm. The system is functionally related to the systems used on Formula One and Indy Cars, and permits the best combination of road holding, ride quality and packaging for the TL. The system uses coil-over shock absorbers that, unlike strut suspensions, are not stressed members of the suspension. This design reduces suspension friction and improves responsiveness to bumps. Suspension camber gain is maximized through the use of a shorter upper arm, while steering feel is enhanced through a high placement of the lower arm.
The upper suspension arm is extremely rigid, which makes it less likely to transmit vibrations from road surface irregularities into the cabin as road noise. A special compliance bushing on the lower arm better absorbs bumps and improves ride quality. A steel bar connects the shock towers to help deter deflection. Hollow, high-strength and lightweight, it enhances chassis solidity, steering precision and feel.
While the major geometry design elements are shared between the TL and TL Type-S, the tuning of these components results in cars with significantly different steering and ride feel.
The TL's suspension has been tuned with an emphasis on ride comfort while maintaining excellent handling. Thus, the hollow front stabilizer bar is 27.2 mm. Also, the front spring rate has been reduced by 7-percent. The front compliance bushing and dampers are re-tuned for ride comfort, without increased roll and only a slight decrease in performance during instrumented handling tests.
The Type-S suspension is re-tuned for significant performance gains. The hollow front stabilizer bar is replaced with a 27 mm solid bar. Although smaller in diameter than used with the previous TL, the new stabilizer bar is significantly stiffer than the hollow 27.2 mm bar it replaces. Additionally, the front damping rate has increased significantly. The dampers on the Type-S have been tuned specifically for the vehicle's goal of more aggressive handling. The result is increased road holding and enhanced stability with a reduced roll angle-all with a minimal loss in ride comfort. Also, the damper mounts are 400-percent stiffer, improving steering response and handling without compromising road noise isolation.
REAR SUSPENSION
The TL rear suspension is a 5-link independent design with struts and coil springs. The suspension mounts to a steel subframe to improve road isolation and to provide a quiet interior. The rear suspension geometry adds "toe-in" when the suspension is compressed, improving handling stability over bumps and during hard cornering and braking.
A stabilizer bar further improves handling precision by limiting body roll, while a special "pillow joint" for the lateral links improves camber rigidity. Rubber shims on the leading and trailing arm bushings improve ride comfort.
As on the front suspension, the rear suspensions are specially tuned on both the TL and TL Type-S. The TL has unique shock valving for improved ride comfort. The rear stabilizer bar design is a hollow 18.3 mm bar that reduces weight without sacrificing roll stiffness.
TL Type-S suspension settings are tuned for performance. Although the automatic and manual transmission TL Type-S models have the same suspension settings, the rear spring rate is increased 33-percent on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, 14-percent on vehicles mated with an automatic transmission. The TL Type-S' solid rear stabilizer bar is 20 mm on cars with an automatic transmission. This results in greater roll stiffness in the rear, allowing for better handling balance and control.
The TL front suspension is a double-wishbone design with a rigid stamped-steel upper arm and a steel lower arm. The system is functionally related to the systems used on Formula One and Indy Cars, and permits the best combination of road holding, ride quality and packaging for the TL. The system uses coil-over shock absorbers that, unlike strut suspensions, are not stressed members of the suspension. This design reduces suspension friction and improves responsiveness to bumps. Suspension camber gain is maximized through the use of a shorter upper arm, while steering feel is enhanced through a high placement of the lower arm.
The upper suspension arm is extremely rigid, which makes it less likely to transmit vibrations from road surface irregularities into the cabin as road noise. A special compliance bushing on the lower arm better absorbs bumps and improves ride quality. A steel bar connects the shock towers to help deter deflection. Hollow, high-strength and lightweight, it enhances chassis solidity, steering precision and feel.
While the major geometry design elements are shared between the TL and TL Type-S, the tuning of these components results in cars with significantly different steering and ride feel.
The TL's suspension has been tuned with an emphasis on ride comfort while maintaining excellent handling. Thus, the hollow front stabilizer bar is 27.2 mm. Also, the front spring rate has been reduced by 7-percent. The front compliance bushing and dampers are re-tuned for ride comfort, without increased roll and only a slight decrease in performance during instrumented handling tests.
The Type-S suspension is re-tuned for significant performance gains. The hollow front stabilizer bar is replaced with a 27 mm solid bar. Although smaller in diameter than used with the previous TL, the new stabilizer bar is significantly stiffer than the hollow 27.2 mm bar it replaces. Additionally, the front damping rate has increased significantly. The dampers on the Type-S have been tuned specifically for the vehicle's goal of more aggressive handling. The result is increased road holding and enhanced stability with a reduced roll angle-all with a minimal loss in ride comfort. Also, the damper mounts are 400-percent stiffer, improving steering response and handling without compromising road noise isolation.
REAR SUSPENSION
The TL rear suspension is a 5-link independent design with struts and coil springs. The suspension mounts to a steel subframe to improve road isolation and to provide a quiet interior. The rear suspension geometry adds "toe-in" when the suspension is compressed, improving handling stability over bumps and during hard cornering and braking.
A stabilizer bar further improves handling precision by limiting body roll, while a special "pillow joint" for the lateral links improves camber rigidity. Rubber shims on the leading and trailing arm bushings improve ride comfort.
As on the front suspension, the rear suspensions are specially tuned on both the TL and TL Type-S. The TL has unique shock valving for improved ride comfort. The rear stabilizer bar design is a hollow 18.3 mm bar that reduces weight without sacrificing roll stiffness.
TL Type-S suspension settings are tuned for performance. Although the automatic and manual transmission TL Type-S models have the same suspension settings, the rear spring rate is increased 33-percent on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, 14-percent on vehicles mated with an automatic transmission. The TL Type-S' solid rear stabilizer bar is 20 mm on cars with an automatic transmission. This results in greater roll stiffness in the rear, allowing for better handling balance and control.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 233
Likes: 45
From: boise idaho
excellet writeup. i have been gathering up pictures just to ask these questions, lol.
i can see the differences between the 07-08 tl and the tls front bumper, but has anyone done the base aspec kit on a tls front bumper?
i can see the differences between the 07-08 tl and the tls front bumper, but has anyone done the base aspec kit on a tls front bumper?
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...=855102&page=4
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 188
Likes: 89
From: SE Houston
This shows a lot thanks. Now does anyone know a website where I can order the aspec lip kit when I have money I just ordered coilovers so I'm a little low now but if someone knew a website an gave it to me id really appreciate it.
10th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
From: San Francisco, CA
Thanks 
All I know is when I get an 07-08 WDP TL Type-S I will NOT buy the Type-S front A-Spec lip again
I really want the 04-06 front A-Spec lip, but I have read its harder to fit on a 3rd gen Type-S. So I will modify an 07-08 Base lip.
All I know is when I get an 07-08 WDP TL Type-S I will NOT buy the Type-S front A-Spec lip again
I really want the 04-06 front A-Spec lip, but I have read its harder to fit on a 3rd gen Type-S. So I will modify an 07-08 Base lip.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 78,245
Likes: 20,199
Great thread...when I read title I thought...WTF, Tyler has GOT to know the difference!
I have a true Aspec...know how I know?!?! It wasn't even called "Aspec" when I went with my stepfather to pick it out in December of 03. It was called the "Sport Edition", doesn't have the blue stitching, Aspec badge or steering wheel... So sad...
Sh*t...now that I think about it, it might have even had the Aspec suspension!!!
J.
I have a true Aspec...know how I know?!?! It wasn't even called "Aspec" when I went with my stepfather to pick it out in December of 03. It was called the "Sport Edition", doesn't have the blue stitching, Aspec badge or steering wheel...
So sad...Sh*t...now that I think about it, it might have even had the Aspec suspension!!!
J.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 41
Likes: 7
Which do you guys prefer for an 06 TL?
I really like the Type-S A-Spec kit. As it mentions, side skirts are all the same. I would just need to mod the front and the back for it to fit onto my 06 TL? Also, would I still be able to keep my exhaust or would I also have to mod that?
(Sorry, but I'm a total nub, atleast I'm not starting a new thread.)
I really like the Type-S A-Spec kit. As it mentions, side skirts are all the same. I would just need to mod the front and the back for it to fit onto my 06 TL? Also, would I still be able to keep my exhaust or would I also have to mod that?
(Sorry, but I'm a total nub, atleast I'm not starting a new thread.)
10th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
From: San Francisco, CA
Which do you guys prefer for an 06 TL?
I really like the Type-S A-Spec kit. As it mentions, side skirts are all the same. I would just need to mod the front and the back for it to fit onto my 06 TL? Also, would I still be able to keep my exhaust or would I also have to mod that?
(Sorry, but I'm a total nub, atleast I'm not starting a new thread.)
I really like the Type-S A-Spec kit. As it mentions, side skirts are all the same. I would just need to mod the front and the back for it to fit onto my 06 TL? Also, would I still be able to keep my exhaust or would I also have to mod that?
(Sorry, but I'm a total nub, atleast I'm not starting a new thread.)
Go 04 kit all around for the 06 but go ahead and get the type-s rear lip. It looks better and will open the doors for more exhaust options in the future.
I mean you have to drill through the rear bumper anyways...might as well just cut a little bit and get the type-s now.
I mean you have to drill through the rear bumper anyways...might as well just cut a little bit and get the type-s now.