[wrxpappy]

06 STi.
I did a search and it looks like I may have the loose axle deal going. If I let off the gas quickly, I hear a loud pop in the back, about the middle of the car and towards the bottom of the car. It is easily repeatable. I don't think it's swaybar related as it makes the noise with the stock bar and also my Whiteline (forgot to try it without the bar on the last changeover, but noise is same with both bars).

Is there any trick to tightening the axle nuts besides buying a 32mm socket? I've read 140 ft.lbs. torque?

Any other ideas? I seems to be getting worse.

Thanks

Whoops, maybe this should be in drivetrain forum?

[Turninconcepts.com]

fronts are a different torque, but the way you are describing it I don't think it's axle nuts.

What mods are done to your car

[wrxpappy]

I just have front Whiteline (27-29 set at 29) and back whiteline (set at stiffest, but I run the stock bar at autocross for A/S). Ferrodo 2500 pads, that's it. Around 12,000 miles.

[SCCARacer]

i just had an axle replaced for the same, reproduceable noise...thought it was a strut and got 2 of those for free too!!! and they tightened the whole subframe while they were at it. unbelievable how much the car loosens up over time!!!

[wrxpappy]

So they replaced the axle instead of tightening it? Do you think tightening would help (track day Saturday)?

[SCCARacer]

ya...i didnt complain....they just did it...under warranty...i dont know if tightening it would help...i dont know what it looks like under there to help ya ...sorry!

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by wrxpappy

So they replaced the axle instead of tightening it? Do you think tightening would help (track day Saturday)?

Once it starts making noise, it's doing damage, so tightening it at that point may only temporarily solve the problem, replacement would be required.

Also, an easy way to tell if it's axle related is to roll down your windows and do back and forth testing in a parking lot. You can actually do it without moving by setting the parking brake and slipping the clutch a little in 1st and reverse, and you'll hear the axle clicking as it takes up the slop in either direction.

I had one of my rear axles replaced under warranty at about 25K miles because the axle nut had worked loose half a turn. It's the only thing that has ever gone wrong with my STI (knock on wood -- the basic 36K warranty is up in 1000 miles).

[wrxpappy]

Well, hopefully she'll hold together for Saturday track day and an autocross on Labor Day. Then I'll get it to the dealer.
Thanks everyone!!

[AmeenR]

My car (2005 with 31K miles) is starting to do the exact same thing. I've got a two day Auto-x coming up this weekend too. I'll be going a bit light on the launches I suppose.

[wrxpappy]

Well, to me, this got a little stranger tonight. I bought the 32 mm and thought I'd give it a tug. I pulled the right side off (I was thinking the noise was on the left side) so I just put the wrench on and wiggle back and forth to see what it should feel like. I didn't release the lock thing at all and everything was very solid and secure.

I got on the left side and was bending my cheapy screwdriver and needle nose trying to bend the lock tab back so I went ahead and threw the wrench on and the big nut turned, with the lock tab still in position. I tightened to 140 ft/lbs and the sound is gone. I'm glad the noise is gone, but without re-positioning the lock tab, something doesn't seem right. I would assume it will back itself out again. Weird....

[fullerton]

humm.... i have this same noise, but haven't really done anything about it.

where is said axle nut and how can I check and see if it is loose? is this the nut behind the wheel that holds everything together and has the piece pushed into it?

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by fullerton

is this the nut behind the wheel that holds everything together and has the piece pushed into it?

Yep, that's the one. You can visually inspect it by removing the wheel center cap. When this happened to me, I noticed the sound, took the car in to the dealer the next day and they found the nut had backed off a little. They tightened it and the sound went away, only to return two days later -- but the nut hadn't backed off again. So they replaced the axle, and it's been good ever since. Once it starts making noise, it's damaging the splines on the axle each time.

[fullerton]

Great- wonder what a new axle costs...

My driver's rear was about 2-4° loose. I tightened it up and during a short drive it seems to be gone... for now.

[JAYMAC10]

I think I have this same problem! I'm going to check the axel nuts tonight and see if the sound goes away...

If it does then comes back, I'll take it to the dealer to be fixed under warranty!

Jay

[gradualepiphany]

hmm I've been having something that might be this, but it's intermittant. I'll try torqueing it down tonight, thanks MUCH for this suggestion - I've been tightening down about everything else trying to get it but didn't think about the axle nut.