Shocks and Springs for Acura Integra LS for cheap?

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cheez

Golden Member
Nov 19, 2010
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Hi guyz,

I'm broke really bad so I'm very limited how much I can spend.

My '97 Acura Integra LS has 189,000 miles on it and the engine runs like a champ, but the steering is really loose and the ride quality is very sluggish / spongy. I think the shocks / springs are going bad. It's all stock.


Question:

Is it worth paying extra at the Honda dealership to have shocks and springs replaced and have them tighten up the steering wheel? What kind of cost are we talking about here?


Or is it better to go with an aftermarket shocks and springs and have them put on from some local shop??


No I don't want to lower my car. I actually want it a little higher. The car sits too low already.


Is it expensive to have steering wheel tightened up? It's like driving a big truck with loose steering wheel.


thanks

cheez
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
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My '97 Acura Integra LS
Is it expensive to have steering wheel tightened up? It's like driving a big truck with loose steering wheel.

whoa that sounds dangerous...

when was the last time you checked the tie rod ends? you can just jack up the front and jiggle the tires with your arms. it shouldn't move.
 

monkeydelmagico

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2011
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whoa that sounds dangerous...

when was the last time you checked the tie rod ends? you can just jack up the front and jiggle the tires with your arms. it shouldn't move.

Yeah what he said. Do NOT go to the honda dealership unless you want to spend alot, have no idea how to do it yourself, or do not have a trusted local mechanic.

Springs rarely go bad unless you've been driving around for a long time with blown struts. Then you might have a little sag. Blown struts will also wear out ball joints. All front end parts need inspected.

Replacing struts is not really that hard and will save you alot of $$$. If you've got an autozone or advance auto near you they will lend the spring compressor. Make sure you get the smallest they have. You'ge got tiny springs. Otherwise harbor freight has cheap spring compressors for under $20.-

Tie rod ends are really easy too. Ball joints can sometimes be a PITA. Nothing a can of PB Blaster, sledge hammer, and ball joint seperator can't fix though.

Head over to HAN forum to get DIY and pics.
 

cheez

Golden Member
Nov 19, 2010
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when was the last time you checked the tie rod ends? you can just jack up the front and jiggle the tires with your arms. it shouldn't move.
Never checked it. Man I don't have tools for doing that stuff - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYIDzXxeNwk

I will need to have mechanic inspect my car for shocks and steering issues.

Hey I wanna replace my steering wheel with a Honda Type-R steering wheel. Is it easy to do? Or is this another dealer's job.


cheez
 

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
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Steering wheel should be somewhat of a cake job. Not a dealer type of job.


If your steering is loose, its not your shocks/springs. 100% look into control arms and tie rods. They can normally be had for cheap and installed for cheap as well. Anything can go at 150k+
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
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Something is majorly wrong if the steering wheel literally feels loose.

Hondas tend to stay pretty damn tight over time. A small Honda like an Integra never seems to get that 'floaty' feeling that other cars can develop with that many miles.

You really don't need to replace springs. They might be sagging a bit, resulting in lower than stock ride height, but I doubt it's anything major and it's not impacting your steering. For shocks and struts, I like KYB's for the money. I think Monroe sucks. Their higher end stuff might be decent; but what they sell for the same money as KYB GR2's is crap. Those two are probably going to be the common aftermarket options.

But you need to get the car in the air and look at your steering, above all else. Find out where your play is...if you can jiggle the steering wheel without the wheels responding, figure out at what point the moving and not-moving parts meet. You could have play in the column, in the steering rack, or in the tie rod ends, pretty much. Or all of those. The stuff's not hard to find with a little bit of examination.
 

Harrod

Golden Member
Apr 3, 2010
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Personally it sounds like you have a car that someone may have previously lowered. It's really just a guess, but if someone changed out your springs to give it more of a drop without changing the shocks that would account for the shocks being blown.

I remember my integra before putting type-r shocks and springs on it had a pretty decent amount of wheel gap in the wheels (around four fingers worth). Another alternative to redoing the shocks and springs would be to get a complete set off of ebay for a type-r, these come with all of the stuff needed to install them and you wouldn't have to take it to the shop to get the work done, or deal with spring compressors since they are already put together.

There is a set on ebay right now for 220, with the lca's as well. You may have said that your broke, but if you are considering putting a type-r steering wheel on the car, you should be able to afford these.
 

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
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^ a loose feeling in the car rarely points to a car being lowered or incorrectly lowered. Something is loose/broken or on its way out. Ball joints, tie rod ends, control arms have a lot higher chance of being the problem.
 
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