ACURA NSX 1997 Service Repair Manual

Knuckle/Control Arms

Removal

1 7. Remove the lower control arm by removing the ad-

justing bolt and flange bolt.

SELF-LOCKING NUT

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut 14 x 15 mm

Replace.

123 N-m

(12.5 kgf-m, 90 Ibf-ft)

ADJUSTING

CAM

LOWER CONTROL ARM

SELF-LOCKING NUT

14 x 1.5 mm

Replace.

123 N-m (12.5 kgf-m, 90 Ibf-ft)

18. Remove the upper control arm by removing the

flange bolts.

UPPER CONTROL ARM

FLANGE BOLT

10 x
1.25
mm

59 N-m (6.0 kgf-m, 43 Ibf-ft)

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut
19. Remove the toe control arm.

FLANGE BOLT

12 x
1.25
mm

93 N-m

(9.5 kgf-m, 69 Ibf-ft)

TOE CONTROL ARM

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

CAUTION: Make sure that the reference marks on

the toe control arm are aligned.ProCarManuals.com

Ball Join t Boo t Replacemen t
NOTE: Th e uppe r contro l ar m bal l join t i s attache d wit h
th e boo t retaine r t o improv e th e sealin g efficienc y o f th e
boot .
1 . Remov e th e se t rin g an d boot .
TWO-JA W PULLE R
(Commerciall y
available)
SET RIN G
BOO T
RETAINE R
NOTE: D o no t damag e th e tapere dsection o f th e bal l pi n wit h th ebearin g puller .
2. Remov e th e retaine r (uppe r bal l join t only) .
3 . Pac k th e interio r o f th e boo t an d li p wit h grease .
BOOT INSTALLATIO N SECTIO N
CAUTION : D o no t contaminat e th e boo t installa -
tio n sectio n wit h grease . 4
. Wip e th e greas e of f th e slidin g surfac e o f th e bal l
pin , an d pac k wit h fres h greas e (uppe r bal l join t
only) .
5. Inser t th e ne w retaine r lightl y int o th e bal l join t pin .
NOTE : Whe n installin g th e bal l joint , pres s fi t th e
retaine r int o th e bal l join t pin .
BAL L PI N TAPERE D SECTIO N
RETAINE R
BOOT INSTALLATIO NSECTION
CAUTION :
• Kee p greas e of f th e boo t installatio n sectio n an d
th e tapere d sectio n o f th e bal l pin .
• D o no t allo w dust , dirt , o r othe r foreig n materi -
al s to ente r th e boot .
6 . Instal l th e boo t i n th e groov e o f th e boo t installatio n
sectio n securely , the n blee d air .
7 . Adjus t th e specia l too l wit h th e adjustin g bol t unti l
the en d o f th e too l align s wit h th e groov e o n th e
boot .
Adjus t th e dept h b yturnin g th e bolt .
BAL L JOIN TBOOT CLI P
GUID E
0797 4 - SA5080 0
(To e Contro l Ar m Bal l Joint )
07GA G - SD4070 0
Upper contro l ar m bal l join tKnuckl e lowe r bal l join t
SE T RIN G
BOO T
8. Slid e th e se t rin g ove r th e too l an d int o position .
CAUTION : Afte r installin g th e boot , chec k th e bal l
pi n tapere d sectio n an d thread s fo r greas e contami -
natio n an d wip e the m if necessary .
ProCarManuals.com

Rear Damper

Removal

1. Remove the rear wheels.

2. Remove the lower rear hatch glass trim.

REAR HATCH GLASS

TRIM

3. For NSX-T, remove the engine cover support rod

from the strut brace, then position the end of the

rod on the window lock mechanism to support the

engine cover.

NOTE: To prevent damage to the window lock

mechanism, place a shop towel over the mecha-

nism.

STRUT BRACE
ENGINE

COVER

SUPPORT ROD

WINDOW LOCK MECHANISM

SHOP TOWEL
4. Remove the three self-locking nuts.

STRUT BRACE
SELF-LOCKING NUT

10 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

5. Remove the rear strut brace (NSX-T model only).

6. Hold the damper lower mount of stabilizer link with

a wrench, then remove the damper mounting nut.

DAMPER MOUNTING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

93 N-m (9.5 kgf-m, 69 Ibf-ft)

WRENCH

HEX WRENCH

STABILIZER LINK

SELF-LOCKING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

83 N-m (8.5 kgf-m, 61 Ibf-ft)

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

7. Hold the ball pin of the stabilizer link with a hex

wrench, then loosen the self-locking nut.ProCarManuals.com

8. Remove the self-locking nut, then remove the

stabilizer link from the stabilizer bar and knuckle.

REAR DAMPER

SELF-LOCKING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

STABILIZER

BAR

STABILIZER LINK

Corrosion resistant bolt/nutProCarManuals.com

Rear Damper

Disassembly/Inspection

Disassembly:

1. Compress the damper spring with the spring com-

pressor according to the manufacturer's instruc-

tions, then remove the self-locking nut.

CAUTION: Do not compress the spring more than

necessary to remove the nut.

SELF-LOCKING NUT

10 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

STRUT SPRING COMPRESSOR:

(Commercially available)

BRANICK8 T/N MST-580A, T/N 7200 or equivalent

2. Remove the spring compressor, then disassemble

the damper as shown on the next page.
Inspection:

1. Reassemble all parts, except the spring.

2. Push on the damper assembly and check for smooth

operation through a full stroke, both compression

and extension.

NOTE: The damper should move smoothly.

If it does not (no compression or no extension), the

gas is leaking, and the damper should be replaced.

WOODEN

BLOCK

3. Check for oil leaks, abnormal noises or binding dur-

ing these tests.ProCarManuals.com

Inspection

SELF-LOCKING NUT

10 x
1.25

Replace.

DAMPER

MOUNTING RUBBER

SELF-LOCKING

NUT

10 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

54 N-m

(5.4 kgf-m, 39 Ibf-ft)
DAMPER

MOUNTING

WASHER

DAMPER

MOUNTING

COLLAR

DAMPER

MOUNTING BASE
BUMP STOP

PLATE

DAMPER

MOUNTING

RUBBER

SPRING MOUNTING

RUBBER

Check for damage

and cracks.

BUMP STOP

PLATE
DUST COVER

SLEEVE

Check for damage.

DAMPER SPRING

Check for weakened

compression and damage.
BUMP STOP

Check for weakness

and damage.

DAMPER UNIT

• Check for oil leak

and faulty operation.

• Check for rust.

Corrosion resistant bolt/nutProCarManuals.com

Rear Dampe r
Reassembl y
1. Instal l th e dampe r uni t o n a sprin g compressor .
2. Assembl e th e dampe r i n revers e orde r o f remova l
excep t th e dampe r mountin g washe r an d self-lock -
ing nut .
NOTE : Alig n th e botto m o f dampe r sprin g an d
sprin g lowe r seat .
STRU T SPRIN G COMPRESSOR :(Commercially available )BRANICK T/N MST-580A , T/ N 720 0 o r equivalen t
SPRING LOWE R SEA T
3. Positio n th e dampe r mountin g bas e s o tha t th e
angl e o f th e stu d bolt s i s a s shown .
NOTE : Follo w th e manufacture' s instructions .
DAMPER MOUNTIN G BAS E
Mountin g bol t directio n
4. Compres s th e dampe r spring .
CAUTION : D o no t compres s th e sprin g mor e tha n
necessar y t o instal l th e self-lockin g nut .
5 . Instal l th e dampe r mountin g rubbe r an d dampe r
mountin g washer , an d loosel y instal l a ne w self -
lockin g nut .
6 . Hol d th e dampe r shaft , an d tighte n th e self-lockin g
nut.SELF-LOCKIN G NU T10 x 1.2 5 mmReplace .29 N- m (3. 0 kgf-m , 2 2 Ibf-ft )
DAMPE RMOUNTIN G WASHE R
Stud bol tpositio n
ProCarManuals.com

Installation

1. Reposition the damper assembly between the

frame and knuckle.

SELF-LOCKING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

STABILIZER BAR

STABILIZER LINK

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

2. Install the stabilizer link and connect the stabilizer

bar.

3. Loosely install a new self-locking nut.

4. Hold the ball pin of the stabilizer link with a hex

wrench, then tighten the self-locking nut.

DAMPER MOUNTING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

93 N-m (9.5 kgf-m, 69 Ibf-ft)

WRENCH

HEX WRENCH

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

5. Loosely install a new damper mounting nut.

NOTE: The damper mounting nuts should be tight-

ened with the damper under vehicle load.
SELF-LOCKING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

83 N-m (8.5 kgf-m, 61 Ibf-ft)
STABILIZER LINKProCarManuals.com

6. Install the new self-locking nuts on the top of the

damper assembly.

STRUT BRACE SELF-LOCKING NUT 10 x 1.25 mm

Replace.

53 N-m (5.4 kgf-m, 39 Ibf-ft)

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

7. Tighten the damper mounting nut to the specified

torque.

8. Secure the damper assembly to the frame with the

self-locking nuts.

9. Install the strut brace (NSX-T model only).

10. Install the rear hatch glass trim.

TAPPING SCREW REAR HATCH GLASS

11. Install the engine cover support rod onto the strut

brace.

12. Install the rear wheels.ProCarManuals.com

Special Tool s
19-77, 19-79, 19-80, 19-84
19-22, 19-25
19-42, 19-44, 19-79, 19-84
19-16
19-80
19-48, 19-10c
19-22, 19-25
ProCarManuals.com