[swr999]

I know this topic has been discussed at great length, but from all I've read I have not been able to get an explanation of exactly is going on with the rear OEM struts which make this noise. If I stand at the rear of the car and push down on the rear, it seems there is an initial resistance to movement, after which there is the 'clunk' and some strut movement.

Can anyone explain what is going on mechanically in struts which have this problem?

And, has the strut actually failed, or is it just noisy but still working correctly?

Thanks!

[VSGTS14]

lube it up...but really i guess it was just poor design
not sure what is literally making the noise, i just know if you lube the shaft it'll go away

[RUGBY]

The shaft is sticking and then unsticking. Many times the strut is working just fine.

[swr999]

Thanks guys. So, is the problem something like a swollen, or dry, o-ring or seal at the top of the strut? And, what lubricant do you recommend I should use to lubricate the strut shaft. Thanks!

[urabus]

Believe it or not, I dealt with the problem for about 50k (you get used to it), then I found that greasing it would solve the problem. I used lithium based grease on the shafts a few hundred miles ago and the clunk is gone. I am upgrading to Koni's soon anyhow, but wish I would have known of the fix a couple years ago since I have never even had a radio in my car since I bought it in 04. I wasn't able to mod my car because of finances so I stayed away from the forums and temptations Eventhough I let the problem go on so long, the stock struts are still fine and not blown or anything at 87k so it obviously isn't detrimental.

[twilight_samurai]

^^^

Thats funny because Im in the same situation with the rear clunk and the power to resist modding my subie.. Though I have fallen onto the dark side and began modding my subie, but I lasted 68,xxx miles before the modding disease took its full effect.

[BlueGold]

Originally Posted by RUGBY

The shaft is sticking and then unsticking. Many times the strut is working just fine.

Exaclty. 99% of the time the strut is fine. Actually the STi struts are rather good...just "clunking" in the rear which can get annoying.

Grease does help.

[urabus]

Originally Posted by twilight_samurai

^^^

Thats funny because Im in the same situation with the rear clunk and the power to resist modding my subie.. Though I have fallen onto the dark side and began modding my subie, but I lasted 68,xxx miles before the modding disease took its full effect.

lol yep, it is very addictive and staying away from the boards for 3+ years helped. Since I paid my car off a few months ago and have been back in the community, I have spent quite a bit of cash in a short period of time. I'm like a junkee and can't get enough now. It is amazing how much I have missed over the past few years and I've been reading like crazy trying to get up to speed. I can't complain because that was the game plan, get out from under the payments, then dump some $ back in the car...

[boondocksaint]

Do NOT cross-post threads.

That is all. Carry on.

[Pitcherman]

Maybe I've just had bad luck, I'm going on my fifth pair for the rear in 98k miles and they are definatly blown just like the rest were.

I guess the offroading doesn't help.

[blackxsti]

i have the same problem right now too whenever i reverse or drive in 1st.. i think ive gotten used to it haha

[05aspenwhitesti_centralnj]

Like everyone else with an '05 I too had the problem. The greasing of the struts works. From what I remember basically what is happening is the lubrication is drying out. When the car comes to a stop and goes over those few bumps in the road or the same bumps when starting to move, the strut has not decrompressed completely yet so the initial bumps or unevenness in the road cuases the strut to decrompress thus giving the clunk sound.

Now here is big warning for all of you guys that are or will be greasing your struts to resolve the problem. WATCHOUT for the dreaded sway bar flip. If you don't know what I am talking about, go here Have your Rear end links bent / flipped?

I jacked up my car, greased the struts then find out 2 weeks later I had the flipped sway bar. Winds up costing more money than it's worth. Then again, in my opinion, the sways, end links and struts need to be upgraded anyway, so do it!!!

[swr999]

Originally Posted by 05aspenwhitesti_centralnj

... WATCHOUT for the dreaded sway bar flip...

Good comment! But does this mean that in the process of jacking up the rear of the car and greasing the strut shafts, something can happen to where you end up bending or flipping the sway bar ends? This wasn't clear to me. Thanks!

[05aspenwhitesti_centralnj]

Originally Posted by swr999

Good comment! But does this mean that in the process of jacking up the rear of the car and greasing the strut shafts, something can happen to where you end up bending or flipping the sway bar ends? This wasn't clear to me. Thanks!

What usually happens....and this is really limited to the 04/05's the 06/07's have longer end links, and the replacements now are also longer.

When you jack up the car the end links and sway bar no longer have the weight of the car holding themin place. Since they are shorter than they are suppose to be the end links (and this doesn't happen everytime) move to a downward position. This brings the sway bar down with it. When the car is on all of its weight, the links wrap ariund the lateral arms and bend. You just need to look before you lower your car. If they are flipped, then flip them back up. If not, don't worry about it. Just be aware of it and watch for it.

[BlueGold]

Originally Posted by Pitcherman

Maybe I've just had bad luck, I'm going on my fifth pair for the rear in 98k miles and they are definatly blown just like the rest were.

I guess the offroading doesn't help.

Just curious but how did you determine the strut(s) was blown?