Like most vehicles, the suspension system on a Honda or Acura will give its owner many miles of trouble-free service. But with the amount of miles these cars deliver, it's only a matter of time before they will need some type of repair. And unlike some of the other systems on the car, the suspension may not provide a clear indication to the driver that a problem exists. It's really up to the technician to identify problems while routine or related service is being performed.

GROANING, SQUEAKING NOISES
The most common symptom that will prompt customers to bring in their Hondas for suspension work will be noise. It could be described as anything from a groaning or squeaking to a knocking or rattling. Groaning is usually caused by a tight ball joint or tie-rod end. Diagnosis shouldn't be a problem. Using your mechanic's stethoscope, with an assistant pushing on the car, it should be easy to find the offending part.

Another common problem you'll see on Accords and some Civics is broken front springs. Normally, you'd think this problem would result in obvious ride height issues, but since the springs tend to break at the lower coils, that isn't the case with these cars. The problem usually shows up as noise caused by the broken pieces rubbing against each other as the spring is worked. Again, diagnosis shouldn't be a problem, requiring no more than a good visual inspection.

If a broken spring is found, some decisions...