1991 ACURA NSX Service Repair Manual

Knuckle/Control Arm s
Remova l
1. Remove , th e rea r whee l an d bearin g uni t assembl y
(se e pag e 18-31 ).
2 . Remov e th e splas h guar d fro m th e knuckle .
SPLASH GUAR D
3. Remov e th e cotte r pi n fro m th e castl e nu t o f th e
to e contro l arm .
4 . Instal l th e 1 0 m m he x nu t o n th e bal l joint . B e sur e
that th e 1 0 m m he x nu t i s flus h wit h th e bal l join t
pin end , o r th e threade d sectio n o f th e bal l join t pi n
migh t b e damage d b y th e bal l join t remover .
5 . Us e th e bal l join t remover , 2 8 mm , a s show n o n pag e
18-2 1 to separat e th e bal l join t an d to e contro l arm .
CAUTION : B e carefu l no t t o damag e th e bal l join t
boot .
CASTL E NU T 1 0 x 1.2 5 m m40-4 8 N- m(4.0-4. 8 kg-m, 29-35 Ib-ft)
COTTE R PI N .
Replace .
On reassembly ,bend th e cotte r pi n a s shown .
BALL JOIN T REMOVER , 2 8 m m07MAC-SL00200
TO E CONTRO L AR M
Corrosio n resistan t bolt/nu t
6. Hol d th e dampe r lowe r moun t of stabilize r lin k wit h
a wrench , the n remov e th e dampe r mountin g nut .
7. Hol d th e bal l pi n of the stabilize r lin k wit h a he x
wrench , the n loose n th e self-lockin g nut .
DAMPE R MOUNTIN G NU T12 x 1.2 5 mmReplac e
9 5 N- m (9. 5 kg-m , 6 9 Ib-ft )
WRENC H
HE X WRENC H
SELF-LOCKIN G NU T
12 x 1.2 5 mmReplace .
8 5 N- m (8. 5 kg-m , 6 1 Ib-ft )
Corrosio n resistan t bolt/nu t
8. Remov e th e self-lockin g nut , the n remov e th e
stabilize r lin k fro m th e stabilize r ba r an d knuckle .
REAR DAMPE R
SELF-LOCKIN G NU T
12 x 1.2 5 mmReplace .
STABILIZE R BA R
STABILIZE R LIN K
Corrosio n resistan t bolt/nu t
STABILIZE
R LIN K
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9. Remov e th e cotte r pi n fro m th e castl e nu t o f th e
lowe r contro l ar m bal l joint , an d remov e th e nut .
10. Instal l th e 1 2 m m he x nu t o n th e bal l joint . B e sur e
that th e 1 2 m m he x nu t i s flus h wit h th e bal l join t
pin end , o r th e threade d sectio n o f th e bal l join t pi n
migh t b e damage d b y th e bal l join t remover .
11. Us e th e bal l join t remover , 3 2 mm , a s show n o n pag e
18-2 1 to separat e th e bal l join t an d lowe r contro l
arm.
CAUTION : Avoi d damagin g th e bal l join t boot .
COTTE R PI N
Replace .
On reassembl ybend th e cotte rpin a s shown .
CASTL E NU T12 x 1.2 5 mm55-6 5 N-m(5.5-6. 5 kg-m, 40-47 Ib-ft)
Corrosio n resistan t bolt/nu t
15. Separat e th e knuckl e fro m th e uppe r contro l ar m
and driveshaf t outboar d joint .
NOTE : D o no t remov e th e driveshaft s fro m th e dif -
ferentia l cas e o r intermediat e shaft .
UPPER CONTRO L AR M
KNUCKL E
NOTE: Ti e plasti c bag s ove r th e driveshaf t ends .
16 . Remov e th e knuckl e fro m th e lowe r contro l arm .
KNUCKL E
LOWE R CONTRO L AR M
BAL
L JOIN T
REMOVER , 3 2 m m
07MAC-SL00100
CASTL E NU T 1 2 x 1.2 5 m m55-6 5 N-m(5.5-6. 5 kg-m, 40-47 Ib-ft)
COTTE R PI N
Replace .
On reassembly ,bend th e cotte rpin a s shown .
12. Remov e th e cotte r pi n fro m th e castl e nu t o f th e
uppe r contro l ar m bal l joint , an d remov e th e nut .
13 . Instal l th e 1 2 m m he x nu t o n th e bal l joint . B e sur e
that th e 1 2 m m he x nu t i s flus h wit h th e bal l join t
pin end , o r th e threade d sectio n o f th e bal l join t pi n
migh t b e damage d b y th e bal l join t remover .
14. Us e th e bal l join t remover , 3 2 mm , a s show n o n pag e
18-2 1 to separat e th e bal l join t an d uppe r contro l
arm.
CAUTION : Avoi d damagin g th e bal l join t boot .
BALL JOIN T REMOVER , 3 2 m m07MAC-SL00100
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Knuckle/Control Arms

Removal

17. Remove the lower control arm by removing the ad-

justing bolt and flange bolt.

SELF-LOCKING NUT

14 x 1.5 mm

Replace.

125 N-m

(12.5 kg-m, 90 Ib-ft)
Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

ADJUSTING

CAM

SELF-LOCKING NUT LOWER CONTROL ARM

14 x 1.5 mm

Replace.

125 N-m (12.5 kg-m, 90 Ib-ft)

18. Remove the upper control arm by removing the

flange bolts.

UPPER CONTROL ARM

FLANGE BOLT

10 x
1.25
mm

60 N-m (6.0 kg-m, 43 Ib-ft)

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

FLANGE BOLT

12 x
1.25
mm

95 N-m

(9.5 kg-m, 69 Ib-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
the 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 .
2. Remov e th e retaine r (uppe r bal l join t only) .
TWO-JA W PULLE R(Commerciall yavailable)
SET RIN G
BOO T
RETAINE R
NOTE:Do no t damag e th e tapere d sectio nof th e bal l pi n wit h th e bearin gpuller.
3. Pack the 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 of the 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
material s t o 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
section 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 .
8. Slid e th e se t rin g ove r th e too l an d int o position .
BALL JOIN TBOOT CLI PGUID E07974 - SA5080 0(Toe Contro l Arm )07GA G - SD4070 0(Other bal l joint )
SET RIN G
BOO T
Uppe r contro l ar m bal l
join t
To e contro l ar m bal l
joint
Adjus t th e dept h b y
turnin g th e bolt .
Knuckl e lowe r bal l
join t
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 con -
taminatio n an d wip e the m if necessary .
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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 mechanism.

STRUT BRACE
ENGINE

COVER

SUPPORT ROD

WINDOW LOCK MECHANISM

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

5. Remove the rear strut brace.

STRUT BRACE
SELF-LOCKING NUT

10 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

Corrosion resistant bolt/nut

6. Hold the damper lower mount of stabilizer link with

a wrench, then remove the damper mounting nut.

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

wrench, then loosen the self-locking nut.

DAMPER MOUNTING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

95 N-m (9.5 kg-m, 69 Ib-ft)

WRENCH

HEX WRENCH

STABILIZER LINK

SELF-LOCKING NUT

12 x
1.25
mm

Replace.

85 N-m (8.5 kg-m, 61 Ib-ft)

Corrosion resistant bolt/nutProCarManuals.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/nut
KNUCKLEProCarManuals.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)

BRANICK® T/N MST-580A 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 as shown.

3. 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

4. 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 kg-m, 39 Ib-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