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My 2015 base model is very loose feeling at 74k miles and am wondering if my struts/shocks are needing to be replaced. I've only had this car for almost 4 months now but the Acura TL I had previous made me feel alot more in control and responsive. This GS is so susceptible to cross winds and road surface's to which it drifts/pulls to the right that I'm constantly counter acting all the time on the highway or 60+... But under 60 it's just fine with no pull. Anybody else have similar experiences?
My 2015 base model is very loose feeling at 74k miles and am wondering if my struts/shocks are needing to be replaced. I've only had this car for almost 4 months now but the Acura TL I had previous made me feel alot more in control and responsive. This GS is so susceptible to cross winds and road surface's to which it drifts/pulls to the right that I'm constantly counter acting all the time on the highway or 60+... But under 60 it's just fine with no pull. Anybody else have similar experiences?
Does your shock absorbers leak oil past the level of the lower spring mount?
Do your shock absorbers make any clunking noises on bump or rebound?
Is your suspension bottoming out?
In the past 2 weeks I've noticed a clunkish kind of noise coming from the passenger front corner. I'm thinking it is either the shock mount bushings or the sway-bar end links. I had the RF tire off when I was changing my oil this past weekend, but before I took the wheel off I tried to shake the wheel up and down as well as side to side but didn't notice any movement in either direction. The fact that it drives straight on city roads then drifts and slightly pulls right when doing 60+ on the highway seems strange to me. It seems to act as if the ECU thinks top dead center of the steering wheel is 2-4° off to the right but only while traveling 60 and up. Is your car easily affected by crosswinds or the crown of the road? Also have slight outer feathering on that RF tire as well
In the past 2 weeks I've noticed a clunkish kind of noise coming from the passenger front corner. I'm thinking it is either the shock mount bushings or the sway-bar end links. I had the RF tire off when I was changing my oil this past weekend, but before I took the wheel off I tried to shake the wheel up and down as well as side to side but didn't notice any movement in either direction. The fact that it drives straight on city roads then drifts and slightly pulls right when doing 60+ on the highway seems strange to me. It seems to act as if the ECU thinks top dead center of the steering wheel is 2-4° off to the right but only while traveling 60 and up. Is your car easily affected by crosswinds or the crown of the road? Also have slight outer feathering on that RF tire as well
My 2015 OEM struts had 50,000 miles with the rear right clunking shock absorber and bottoming out.
Once removed, the rear right strut had oil all over it, and soil noticeably stuck to the oil.
I did not have any directional stability issues, but then my rear right strut won't affect steering as much as your front right strut.
I would get your shock absorbers checked out.
The OEM shock absorbers are obviously made by KYB.
I'm surprized the OEM/KYB shock absorbers did not last very long with only 50,000 miles, but perhaps they did not last long because the 2015 OEM damping was very firm?
@peteharvey please satisfy my curosity....as the in-house suspension expert, do you work in the industry or just really like suspension?
I don't know much about suspension really.
I know very little about coil overs, very little about lowering and very little about spacers etc.
I just like a smooth rattle free ride.
However, in the early 2010's when President Akio first took over the reigns of TMC, he wanted TMC to have inspired styling and inspired dynamics, with the philosophy of "No more boring cars", and this resulted in rather firm suspension for the superseded 2012-17 Camry and the superseded 2013-20 4GS etc.
Since then, recent models like the 2017-22 Camry, 2018-23 Corolla, and 2018-23 RAV4 now have done an "about-face" and gone back to softer and more compliant suspension.
a measure of the Stock 2018 F Sport springs, Sorry do not have caliper that big to measure.
Interesting.
My 2013 OEM front coils have axial height of 13.464".
My 2015 OEM front coils 13.405".
Hence, 2013 and 2015 are about the same axial height, with the 2015 coil having a tapering flattened coil design towards the top.
IMO, the 2013 and 2015 felt about the same for ride.
Your 2018 OEM front coils are about 14.5".
My 2019-20 OEM front coils are 14.409".
Hence your 2016-18 OEM Series and my 2019-20 Series are about the same axial height, and have a good 1" more axial height than the 2013-15 OEM's.
Just as well, because the softer the spring rates, the lower the Pounds/inch travel.
I find my 2019-20 still firm, but noticeably softer riding than my 2013 and 2015 OEM's.
The rear is the same story.
My 2013-15 OEM rear has an axial height of 13.543"; from 2013 to 2015 inclusive, the same part number was used.
Your new 2018 OEM rear is 14.375".
My new 2019-20 OEM rear is 14.173".
Hence again, unlike the 2013-15 Series, the 2016 onwards have more coil spring axial height indicative of softer spring rates.
The 2016-18 Series have very similar axial height to the 2019-20 Series, indicating that there may not be much difference in spring rates between these two part numbers and model years.
However, having actually driven the mid-life refreshed 2016-18 and 2019-20, IMO the 2016-18's are noticeably softer riding, while the 2019-20's are reasonably soft, but still a touch firm like the 2013-15's.
From 2016-20, the same front and rear shock absorbers were used, and these shock absorbers were "floatier" than the shock absorbers used in 2014 which had moderate "float", while my 2015 OEM shock absorbers were by far the most "tied down" with the 2015 handling almost like a compact sedan.
The springs affect the compliancy and roll, hence weight transfer, speed of change of direction [sharpness] and terminal grip.
The shock absorbers affect the float/bounce [body control].
Also keep in mind that 2016 onwards had thicker front roll bars.
While 2018 onwards had thicker rear roll bars.
My 2015 base model is very loose feeling at 74k miles and am wondering if my struts/shocks are needing to be replaced. I've only had this car for almost 4 months now but the Acura TL I had previous made me feel alot more in control and responsive. This GS is so susceptible to cross winds and road surface's to which it drifts/pulls to the right that I'm constantly counter acting all the time on the highway or 60+... But under 60 it's just fine with no pull. Anybody else have similar experiences?
I have 13 GS350AWD and I too experience the same thing. Last night driving from NYC I couldn't go above 60mph because the car didn't want to stay still in the lane. I kept having to counter steer. My car has just under 60k miles.
I have 13 GS350AWD and I too experience the same thing. Last night driving from NYC I couldn't go above 60mph because the car didn't want to stay still in the lane. I kept having to counter steer. My car has just under 60k miles.
I still haven't found a reason or solution for my issue, but another member on here DM'ed me and said he was having the same issue and the fix for him was the rear diffuser below the rear bumper had some clips that broke off creating a parachute effect. Check to see if maybe something of the sorts is going on with yours... Is this road you where traveling on a regular route you drive?
08-10-21, 06:23 PM
