Acura TL 2004-2008: Suspension Modifications
When it comes to suspension, the options are almost endless. No matter if you are looking to just slam it for that awesome look or make it a better handling track day car, we can help.
This article applies to the Acura TL (2004-2008).
The suspension on the Acura TL is already sporty; however, there is room for improvements. Whether you want to replace worn stock parts with better ones, make your TL carve corners harder, or lower your vehicle, this guide will go over what you can do. Suspension modifications are one of the most popular and useful mods you can do for your Acura TL, so let us guide you—along with the input of your fellow forum members—and make your Acura into a real sports sedan.
Suspension Modifications
#1 Sway Bars
DIY Cost – $200-400
Professional Cost – $300-600
Skill Level – Easy; this is mostly a simple bolt in procedure.
The factory fits rather small sway bars on your Acura TL, and although they work well, upgrading with bigger, better ones is one of the easiest and most effective modifications you can make. One of the best things about aftermarket sway bars is that they only stiffen your ride in the corners, and leave your freeway cruising with the plush luxury car feel. You will definitely feel your car is a lot tighter when taking turns at high speeds. Balanced sway bars allow the car's front and rear to drift equally, and tunes out the under-steer most cars have from the factory. Replacing the sway bars can be done on your own if you are comfortable with DIY procedures. If you change your springs to lowering ones, add heavy duty shocks, then replace the sway bars with performance ones, your TL will be ready for the track.
#2 Shocks
DIY Cost – $39-170
Professional Cost – $70-200
Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires the removal of various components.
The Acura TL is equipped with shocks that compromise between a taught sporty ride and a comfortable luxury car ride. The options are many when it comes to replacing the shock absorbers, and since all these cars are more than five years old at this point, chances are you need replacements anyway. Popular brands include the KYB GR2, Tokico Illumina.
#3 Lowering Springs
DIY Cost – $134-300
Professional Cost – $250-500
Skill Level – Moderate; replacing the springs requires a spring compressor, but you can rent or borrow one.
Lowering the Acura TL doesn't have to cost a lot of money if you use lowering springs. These springs are manufactured specifically for your car, and combine a shorter height with a stiffer spring rate, for a better look and a better handling. When you're replacing the springs, you need to properly compress the springs with a spring compressor to get them off the shocks. Since you need to take the springs off the shocks, and every Acura TL is more than five years old, it just makes sense to replace the shocks at the same time with new units. Lowering springs place more stress on the shocks too, so if you do keep the current units, chances are you are going to need to replace them shortly afterwards.
#4 A-Spec Kit
DIY Cost – $200-800
Professional Cost – $400-1,000
Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires some knowledge of the suspension system.
A-Spec is a factory produced kit to upgrade the entire suspension of the Acura TL and make it a much more sporty car. The lit consists of a set of slightly lower and stiffer springs, and upgraded shocks. The A-Spec kit is basically similar to ordering a set of lowering springs and shocks; only you are getting all of the hard work Acura put into tuning these springs and shocks specifically for the TL. Unfortunately, these kits are now hard to find, and no longer available from your local Acura dealer.
#5 Coilovers
DIY Cost – $492-1,000
Professional Cost –$700-1,300
Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires the removal of various suspension components.
The ultimate upgrade to your suspension are adjustable coliover shock absorbers, which replace the non-adjustable factory coilover strut type shocks. On the inside you will find a heavy duty, performance shock absorber, and on the outside you will find a stiffer spring and a collar to adjust the ride height without removing them from the car. The coilovers typically make your handling much tighter than the stock, and shouldn't really be considered if you are interested in keeping the luxury car ride the Acura TL came with. Installing them is only a little bit more involved than replacing the shocks with stock type units, but you don't need a spring compressor. Coilovers do have a reputation for making the rest of the suspension wear out faster, so consider them before you install them.
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