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Hyundai Azera Front End Problems

1324 messages,  Last post on Mar 29, 2013 at 2:22 PM

You are in the Hyundai Azera Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Azera, Suspension, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 119 of 134

#1172 of 1324 Re: Looking at a used 2008 Azera built on 070207 [tseverson1] by khathuy

Apr 03, 2009 (6:18 pm)

Replying to: tseverson1 (Apr 02, 2009 10:00 pm)
I was lucky when I went to Commerce Hyundai in Commerce, CA and was able to get the latest 640 for my front. The car rides the same in regards to the soft suspension. After I changed the new struts the noise is still there. This convinces me that it may not be the struts, rather it is only due to the strut mounts abd struts insulator like some other posts were mentionning. If you can't get Hyundai to pay for it, the parts are not that much if you want to get it from http://www.1sthyundaiparts.com/partscat.html.
The mount is about $32 each side. I don't know about the labor from your area. I can find Independent Mechanics here changing for $50 each side.
After seating in other cars (2004 BMW328i, 2002 Acura TL, 2008 Honda Accord) when I carpool on the same road every day with my co-workers, I found out that the ride on the Azera was not that bad at all. The noise is there but unless you really pay attention and the road is really rough, you may be able to hear it if you have the stereo off. As a matter of fact, the Azera is probably one of the most quiet among the others cars. Of course it is also one of the softest ride car. I don't find a problem with the soft ride because strangely it is only soft when you go straight on the rough and uneven road, however, when you turn it feels pretty solid and safe (to me). I trade in my 1998 Q45 for this azera and the ride is very similar with the Q45. Compare to my wife German BMW, it is totally a different ride. The BMW does handle much better but it is a liitle too hard and bumpy for me (She has the Sport suspension). Whatever I said here is my own opinion and i do not mean to offend anyone with BMW, Acura or Honda. I didn't mean to say Axera is better but for the money that I paid, i think it's a value. I paid less than $14000 for a fully loaded (with the ultimate package) V6 2006 azera with leather and only has 9000 miles on it with the remaing 3 years and 50K warranty on it.

#1173 of 1324 Looking at a used 2008 Azera . . . [tseverson1] by donna388

Apr 03, 2009 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: tseverson1 (Apr 02, 2009 10:00 pm)
"I looked at the build date for the 2008 Azera (on the bottom of the door pillar between
the drive’s door and the back seat door). The build date was June 02, 2007 so the
Azera is a candidate for the “dreaded front suspension problem” (cars built after
10/20/07 have better quality shock absorbs than those build before 10/20/07).
I printed out a copy of TSB 07-50-007 which covers this issue."
  
You are considering a 2008 which has the same shocks front and back as the 2007s.
Read that TSB again. It does not apply to any Azeras built after February 26, 2007.
  
"From what I read in the Hyundai forums the TSB calls for a replacement of an inferior front
shock absorber 54611-3L041 with an equally inferior front shock absorber 54611-3L040.
I understand the real solution to the problem is to install a better quality front shock absorber 54611-3L640."
  
Where are you going to find a better quality front shock? Not from Hyundai.
Front 640s are not a solution to the problem, as the 640 parts have
failed in a number of vehicles in which they have been installed.
There is one person who paid for the 640 shock parts for both front and back and
installed them himself and I have ridden in his car and it is half-way decent.
But mine and many others have had the fronts only done and most all of us are not happy as these 640 parts can go bad the same as the 041s and the 040s have done.
I am on my third set of shocks and all sets have failed. Had to threaten the Lemon-Law
to get the 640s installed even though the mecahnic that did the TSB replacements
said the 040s were bad. (He got fired for not changing his recommendation.)
   
"Do ALL 2008 Hyundai Azera sedans built before 10/20/07 need all four of their shock absorbers upgraded to the new and better quality shock absorbers? I understand the back 2 shock absorbers have different part numbers than the front 2 shock absorbers."
  
The latest vehicles, those built after 10/20/07 have 640s all around, both front and rear.
The front parts are 54611-3L640
The rear parts are 55311-3L640
   
"Has Hyundai developed a solution to this problem that
is available to me if I purchase this vehicle?"
  
In a word NO.
  
"Do I forget this vehicle or is there a way to purchase the car and get the better shock
absorbers (i.e. the 54611-3L640 on the front) installed without any additional cost to me?"
  
In a word YES.
Forget it unless you want to go to the expense yourself of installing and paying for both front and rear shocks and while that might correct the problem, it is not guaranteed.
  
In my case, the dealer told me that the 640s would not fit.
After threating to go Lemon-Law, all of a sudden those front parts
were authorized as a "Goodwill' gesture by the factory rep.
But within a very few short miles, the newest wore off and the front end was
porpusing, wallowing and undulating from side to side just as it had done
before with the bad original 041s and the TSB replacement 040s.
Hyundai does not have any decent shocks for the Azera, and does not seem
to be the slightest bit interested in correcting this engineering shortcoming.
No one and I mean no body makes an aftermarket shock to address this problem.
I suspect that there may not be any more Azeras after the MY 2009s.
Hyundais' attitude is to not be bothered with fixing this one problem
which ruins and otherwise excellent automobile.
 
"I am not interested in purchasing a 2008 automobile with existing problems."
  
As I have outlined above, IF you drive this car that you are interested in
and I mean really drive it over all kinds of roads for many miles and
you can be satisfied with the way it rides, go for it.
  
Good luck with your decision and please keep us posted.
 

#1174 of 1324 Re: Our Azera shocks . . [spoolenturbo] by newguy6

Apr 04, 2009 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: spoolenturbo (Apr 02, 2009 9:27 pm)
I just kept complaining about the clunk, I think the turning point came when my wife finally heard it. She got the service manager to also hear it and the "fix" was on.
What they did was replace what they called the upper strut mount. You can not believe the diferance, it's great. Yes it was covered by the warranty. Of course I had complained about it since the car was new and did have a claim number at Hyundai. USA. I think the service department was happy to get rid on me. It was worth the hassle, the clunk is gone!

#1175 of 1324 Re: Our Azera shocks . . [newguy6] by khathuy

Apr 04, 2009 (8:04 pm)

Replying to: newguy6 (Apr 04, 2009 7:44 pm)
Do you know exactly the part number for the mount. I heard that starting in 2008, Hyundai uses the same strut mount of the Sonata for the Azera. The original Azera strut mount part number is 546303L100 and the new strut mount for the 2008Azera / Sonata is 546303L000. Thanks

#1176 of 1324 Re: Our Azera shocks . . [khathuy] by newguy6

Apr 04, 2009 (8:53 pm)

Replying to: khathuy (Apr 04, 2009 8:04 pm)
I am sorry, I do not have the part number. I have discarded the paper work for the repair. Edwards Hyundai in Council Bluffs, IA did the fix. Josh was the service writer. The car's name is pearl [ my wife's car], he will know who who are asking about.

#1177 of 1324 Re: Our Azera shocks . . [newguy6] by spoolenturbo

Apr 05, 2009 (12:04 am)

Replying to: newguy6 (Apr 04, 2009 7:44 pm)
newguy6
 
Hey thanks for the information buddy. Only thing I can see is trying to "prove" the issue and them giving me hell. But one good thing on my side is a friend of my Fathers is adding a Hyundai Dealership in Long Beach that have a reliable service dept that does great work on Chevrolet's will see what happens...
 
Thanks again,
- Jim

#1179 of 1324 Post moved by pat

Apr 05, 2009 (1:21 pm)

Here's the link: carolinabob, "Hyundai Azera 2007" #801, 5 Apr 2009 1:14 pm.

#1180 of 1324 What test drive exposes the suspension problem? by tseverson1

Apr 05, 2009 (5:18 pm)

If I test drive a 2008 Azera built prior to 10/20/07 over a very rough straight road, should I expect to encounter the front end suspension problem?
 
I may test drive an Azera and am wondering what kind of road will fully test the suspension. From what I have read a straight rough road with many pot holes should do it. I am also thinking of finding a road with several railroads tracks crossing it.
 
I will drive my Honda Accord over the road before the Azera for a comparison and I will drive the same path at the same speed (appropriate for the road conditions) with both vehicles.
 
Is the “clunk” people hear just another aspect of the front end suspension problem or is it a different issue separate from the suspension problem? Should I hear a "clunk" when I drive over my rough road of choice?
 
I expect the Azera will easily bottom out when driven over a rough road.
 
Any road test suggestions are welcome.

#1181 of 1324 Re: What test drive exposes the suspension problem? [tseverson1] by carolinabob

Apr 06, 2009 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: tseverson1 (Apr 05, 2009 5:18 pm)
For me clunk and ride were two different issues. My '07 has the L640 shocks on front, which are the same as on the 08's and 09's, but did not change the ride.
Try a concrete road with a lot of joints. Also one where there are small dips or rises, particularly on one side but not the other.
  Try at low speeds and high speeds when possible.
  Railroad tracks are also a ggod test, particularly if they cross at an angle or you can cross them at an angle.
  On good roads, the ride is better than anything I have been in. Good luck and tell them you want it for 1.5-2 hours of driving. I have had dealers say I could take cars home overnight or drive them to my home even though 25 miles away.

Messages Page 119 of 134

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