[nandanrp]

I dunno if I want to tear it apart today...time is tight with my flight out tomorrow...

If I do though, I'll let you know.

[nandanrp]

Another update... took the rear seat out, and the three top nuts are all snugged down tight. Jacked the car up and went under there with a flashlight; the lower strut bolts are both on and tight. The nut on the bottom of the strut (which we removed for the bumpstop) is also on tight. So the only nut we weren't able to double check was the strut top nut, but I'm fairly certain it is tight as well.

We're 98% sure it's a faulty strut now. My friend said both rear struts compressed really easily yesterday (the fronts definitely did not). I only hear clunks from the passenger side, but who knows, maybe the driver's side will clunk soon too.

While the seat was out, my friend was sitting in the back (passenger side) while I jumped up and down in the trunk, and the sound came through loud and clear. I think it's mostly on the rebound stroke that it makes the noise.

It's just really surprising to me that I didn't hear it one day and I hear it the next, but who knows, the stiffer rate of the pinks might be amplifying a problem that has been there for thousands of miles

Dropping the car off at the dealer tomorrow, need to see if they will warranty it for the known strut failure/clunk, or if they are going to blame my Pinks (which have been on the car for 15 miles).

[Rootus]

If they try to blame the pinks, point out that they say "STi" on them . Most good dealers should be more than familiar with STI strut failure by now, I hope.

[flatthump]

Yeah they fail on stock STi's....that is proof enough.

[nandanrp]

I know it, and you guys know it, but we'll see what the dealer says

I'll update this thread accordingly

[La Mer]

And the pics of the car lowered are....... where?

[Crewchief]

Originally Posted by La Mer

And the pics of the car lowered are....... where?

+2

[nandanrp]

I'll update my journal tomorrow (hopefully). Needless to say, that damn clunking noise kind of killed my excitement

I took the lip off today too, so that the dealer doesn't crack it pulling the car onto the lift.

[scottjua]

sounds like this is a bad week for Pinks + RCE plates installs... I did mine yesterday and managed to over torque the actual piston center strut bolt (wrong torque setting without checking) and snapped it right off... FUBAR.

So we were DONE... car on the ground... just gonna check torque and I blew it... I feel your install woes.

[nandanrp]

^^^Just curious, how did you get a torque wrench on that nut? You need like a gear wrench to tighten it since you need to hold the hex key in the middle (unless you use an impact wrench, like I did...).

[nandanrp]

New developments...might have found the issue... I'll update if my suspicions are correct.

/Runs off to Sears

[T3h_Clap]

what did you do!

[boondocksaint]

Originally Posted by T3h_Clap

what did you do!

That silly whore works in mysterious ways. Rather than post his suspicion so that someone might be able to confirm or deny it, he runs off to check it.

[nandanrp]

She's fixed!!!

Strut top bolt (17mm, secures top hat to strut) still needed a few more turns... I guess the impact wrench didn't power it on enough

I'll post more later (with pictures of course!).

Car is silent now, save for the usual creaks and rumbles.

[T3h_Clap]

good job nan.