Are your most recent alignment results within specs? Do you carry alot of items and load your rear end frequently enough to tax the springs? Is one side sagging relative to the other side? If you are not having issues I would have to say your springs are still good.

 

This ^^^ change them when they break or sag unloaded.

if your ass sags when loaded, throw some timbrens in there.

like most gen 4's the rear spring seats get obliterated, check on the state of those, cheap to replace but dont last.

 

I'll see if it sags when it's loaded. I know it didn't do well with a small trailer I had hooked up. I see recommendations on this thread for timbrens or airlift. Have to look into those.

 

Springs on some vehicles wear out, but that doesn't seem to be the case for the Odysseys. They can also rust and get weak or break in the rust belt.

If the ride height is still fine, no need to replace the springs. Check the lower spring seats, as already mentioned.

-Charlie

 

Springs on some vehicles wear out, but that doesn't seem to be the case for the Odysseys. They can also rust and get weak or break in the rust belt.

If the ride height is still fine, no need to replace the springs. Check the lower spring seats, as already mentioned.

-Charlie

What's the best way to check ride height? I mean I know I can measure it but what is the baseline? Should the back be the same as the front? The struts on the front are new, the shocks on the back are newer but the springs on back are original. I'll check the spring seats. I didn't see issue with them when I did the shocks.

 

Put a pair of Airlift bags inside the springs. They do wonders even without a load.

 

If you have towed and/or carried heavy loads, you might need to change the rear springs with 180K on the car. However, looking at it on a level surface, with an unloaded car and no trailer, if the front and rear fenders have the same gap to the tire, its not sagging.

 

Thanks. I measured the outside highest point of the wheel well and all 4 are about the same, so I think I'm good. I haven't towed a trailer often with this the and weight has been fairly light (1,000 lbs at most, probably closer to 800 lbs.).

 

And some of that weight was not on the hitch - maybe 40% or so.

 

I took a look at them today, and that lower plastic piece is definitely trashed. I don't remember it looking like that when I changed out the shocks but I might not have noticed.

What does this piece do? I know it's not expensive.

 

What does this piece do? I know it's not expensive.

Lower spring seat. Keeps squeaks from the metal-on-metal contact from happening. It'll also get you about 1/4" of ride height back.

-Charlie

 

That is too common. That plastic stuff is cheap piece of trash and you have to order online or get at dealer. They are cheap though.

 

Is it likely the top seats are bad too? I didn't think to try to inspect them but I'm not sure I would be able to anyway without taking the springs out.

Looks like the tops are about $25 each.

 

The uppers seem to still be good on these vans so far.

-Charlie

 

I changed the rear springs today over lunch break - super easy. Big difference in handling based on a short test drive. I'm surprised a half inch of sag made that big of an issue.

I also installed timbrens as I'll be loading it up this weekend and pulling a small trailer. I suspect airbags would have been a better solution as they'd help more when the van isn't loaded but I didn't want to mess with the install process. Timbrens were about an easy job as there could be since the springs were out already.

Mr Ranger had a video in another thread that made the job super easy to follow.

 

Where did you find rear springs for Odyssey? I've been trying to find them for my 2013 model, can't even find a part#

 

52441-TK8-A03
Spring, R. RR.

52446-TK8-A03
Spring, L. RR.

Rear Shock Absorber - 2013 Honda Odyssey 5 Door EX KA 5AT

Shop in the parts listing - 2013 Honda Odyssey 5 Door EX KA 5AT Rear Shock Absorber. Discounted prices and Hassle-Free Return on genuine Honda parts.

www.hondapartsnow.com

 

Thanks for the part numbers!
Unfortunately, they are not in stock.
If anyone finds them to be available, please respond!
Thank you!!!

 

The left side rear spring seems to be perpetually on back order with no ETA. Any chance we could use a right side spring and lower isolator on the left side?

 

No, the springs are wound reverse from each other. For the same reason, the lower spring seats don't swap.

-Charlie

 

An easy DIY option is to install Sumo Springs. They are rubber spacers that fit btw coils. Should provide a slight rise to rear and more resistance to rear sag when loaded. I plan to do this as a temp thing until I can do the formal lift kit as sold by Traxda.

DanaH
2014LX

 

Yep, just changed out my springs for H&R in the rear, and the old springs were a little worked so I noticed maybe 1/4" of drop over my current. Easy procedure took me <45 minutes per side.

I concur, the rear springs are DIFFERENT on each side. Different spring direction and different lower seat plasticky part. The upper rubber seat is the same though.

 

But is there anything on the control arm preventing you from using a right side spring and right side lower seat on the left side?

 

Yes. The pocket has a matching spiral shape to the spring.

-Charlie

 

Yes, like Charlie said, there is a detent on the control arm that accepts the end of the spring (which is covered by the lower spring seat plasticky/rubbery part). So you can't interchange left / right rear springs.

 

Appreciate the info before I started taking things apart. I guess I'll start with new upper/lower isolators and Timbren bump stops and see what the ride height looks like from there.

 

My lower spring seat was destroyed. Plastic. Definitely a replace item. The upper spring seat is rubber and was totally fine although I had a new one I put in since i was there. I have AirLift 1000's in there -- you remove the bump stop during install -- and the ride height is adjustable for a given weight. Depends how much junk you got in the trunk. The Timbrens are just install and done. No adjustment, but they seem pretty sweet and I'm hemming and hawing about those in the future.

FWIW I'm definitely a weekend warrior but I did the 2nd side in only 45 minutes including new struts and new airbags.

 

After emailing Moog, they have rear coil springs for 3rd gen, they referred me to Coil Springs Specialties.

Coil Springs Specialties returned a quote very quickly. I asked for a stock spring with a capacity increase of 400lbs, their quote for the pair is $460 US.

 

Not cheap, but bad for custom made springs I don't think.

 

Just put the air bags inside the rear springs. I got a set about a year ago after we started to load up the van with lots of back and forth runs to see our kids. It helps ordinary handling as well.