I need the hive! (Acura RSX content)

OK, here we go. '02 Type S. Needs struts, the damn thing leaps sideways over bumps these days. I'm actually happy with the stock springs, it's my DD. Just looking for a good match without spending OEM style money on a 15yr old car (already learned that lesson with the cabin filters).

Love the car, but she sure needs some help at the moment. Tokikos, KYB, or Bilsteins or Konis on "sellout prices" somewhere?

Oh, and I'd go used if the ones you want to get rid of have some life left in them. Only rule is that they have to work with my stock springs. Price is important..I'm not as young & healthy as I used to be, I'll have to pay somebody to install them.

I have no help to offer but I'm very glad to see a post from you. Blast from the past. It's like old times in here right now

I would just get the Acura A-Spec suspension kit. Struts & springs are all pre-assembled and ready to bolt on, plus it's a nice handling upgrade (same specs as JDM DC5R). It was like $500 for all four corners last I checked.

Otherwise for a DD you might as well just go with el-cheapo KYBs from RockAuto or maybe Koni Oranges (STR.T) if Tire Rack happens to have them on sale right now.

pointofdeparture wrote: I would just get the Acura A-Spec suspension kit. Struts & springs are all pre-assembled and ready to bolt on, plus it's a nice handling upgrade (same specs as JDM DC5R). It was like $500 for all four corners last I checked. Otherwise for a DD you might as well just go with el-cheapo KYBs from RockAuto or maybe Koni Oranges (STR.T) if Tire Rack happens to have them on sale right now.

Ooh, tell me more! I've never heard of that "A-Spec" kit. Honestly, I just got back into a Honda product after I lost my middle-class job, and knew I couldn't spend kilo-dollars on my VWs anymore. Five hundred bucks for all four? Hell, I spent that on tires today. Not that I come by it easily..but after hydroplaning at 45mph on the Interstate during a thunderstorm..my 'strut money' became my 'tire money' pretty damn quick.

Nick (picaso) Comstock wrote: I have no help to offer but I'm very glad to see a post from you. Blast from the past. It's like old times in here right now

Thanks, man! It's a weird thing..I've lost a lot of muscle mass since I turned 50, and just stopped posting up because I was so ashamed that I really can't pull on a wrench like I used to. I kept reading, though. "Born Again Lurker"?

Still, notice where I asked for help when I needed stuff. Best car forum on the 'net.

In reply to friedgreencorrado:

http://acura.bernardiparts.com/Acura-SUSPENSION-ASSY-A-SPEC__08W60-S6M-200A.aspx

There ya go. Search around with the part number (08W60-S6M-200A) and you might find a better deal. I've done a lot of research into RSXs and everything I've read says the A-Spec kit is an awesome setup, pretty much the best you can do without making the car intolerable on the street.

In research for a friend I learned go to the A spec if you can find a good price. It is the best way to go. Especially since you don't want to do the work of pulling springs off and remounting them.

Otherwise find a sale on cheap struts. The cost seems to end up close to the cheapest ASpec kit prices out there.

Thanks for the part number, that helped! They're kind of thin on the ground these days, though. Might be NLA. I'm seeing a lot of posts (on other forums) from people who tried to order one from a place that (spit) drop-ships. "Backorder, backorder, let online come over!" Still looking for a place with one in stock. Egad, now you have to have the money in pocket just to buy parts, not just cars.

Mr. Wallens' recent column about this kind of E36 M3 is kind of ringing in my ears this week, and I don't even play guitar.

^ You should be able to garner some A-Specs from Curry Acura online. They ship for about $600. A-Specs (and HFPs) are basically Type R dampers and springs, drops car .6 to .75", which is the stock height of DC5 Type Rs. They really change the car for a great price. More camber, too.

In reply to Hasbro:

Thanks, man. I can get to Curry. I can drive over there and not worry about shipping. Just hoping that the supply lasts until I can get the money up again. Sure will try it, though!

friedgreencorrado wrote: In reply to Hasbro: Thanks, man. I can get to Curry. Just hoping that the supply lasts until I can get the money up again. Sure will try it, though!

The spring weights are very similar to the S but it's firmer due to the dampers. An R bar in the rear with A-Specs really helps, too. It's only a mm or 2 bigger but it's solid.

In reply to Hasbro:

Dude..I've been pretty much driving 'without' dampers for a couple of months now. At anything over 70mph, even with Type-S springs, it feels like my parents' American cars from the '70s. Floats like a boat, compared to other modern cars.

I'm actually stoked to hear there's a "bolt on" package out there that can fix this E36 M3 for less cost than other solutions. Not going for the rear bar yet, but yeah..I'm also tired of folks that say this chassis can't handle. At least on the street, mine was doing pretty good before I had to defer my own suspension maintenance.

friedgreencorrado wrote: I'm also tired of folks that say this chassis can't handle.

No, they can't handle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y20sn8uDy8U

HA! I like that a lot. Funny thing, my last Honda before this one was a 2nd gen Prelude. Yeah, I love the old cars that actually didn't have "strut suspensions"..but my time in VWs lets me know that the DC5 having such stuff doesn't automatically mean that it's a hopeless situation.

It wasn't the struts that made them turn like a dump truck. It was the neutered rear suspension.

The A-Spec kit was discontinued when I still worked for Acura. So any chance of finding one will be someone that has it in stock.

Bobzilla wrote: It wasn't the struts that made them turn like a dump truck. It was the neutered rear suspension.

Yep, aside from revamping the rear geometry, you're pretty much stuck with a fairly stock Type R height (-.75 to -1.") or lowering and using 2,000 to 3,000 lb. rear springs. There are a few things to help with binding, etc.. Pulling 500 lbs. helps also. But it aint a Teggy.

There are also some old BTCC parts supposedly kicking around...

Bobzilla wrote: The A-Spec kit was discontinued when I still worked for Acura. So any chance of finding one will be someone that has it in stock.

Yeah, after looking around at how many websites wanted to sell me one without listing how many they had in stock, I was beginning to suspect such a thing. Thanks for the 'heads up'.

Good to hear from you FGC.

Searching for new A-spec suspension found two brand new sets on eBay for $50 over MSRP, for what it's worth.

Toyman01 wrote: Good to hear from you FGC.

HA! Sorry Toyman. FWIW, I did see the bus thread. That was fantastic.