Strut replacement under warranty question

**Parker** · 03-09-2008, 10:26 AM

Well, im in a small predicament about whether or not to take my struts in to have Subaru replace them or should I just purchase a set of used front stockers.

*Note: Aftermarket springs/struts aren't an option

So here is my story (kinda long):

I asked a friend to install the RCE yellows (v1) back in January, a person who I trust and knows a great deal about Subaru cars, all of which can be verified. Install went great, went on my way. Then back in July, I asked him if I could switch to Prodrive springs because the RCE's were just too stiff for me...swap was done.

Over time, my rear passenger strut started making clunking noises so I wanted to put my stock springs back on so I wouldn't get any hassles, which was done yesterday. Now I took the liberty to install them and everything went just fine except when we replaced the bumpstops. After installing the bumpstops, the nut/screw that attaches at the bottom of the strut (closest to the ground) wouldn't tighten all the way and kept spinning. I figured we fubar'd the bolt to where the screw wouldn't tighten down all the way so we tried to remove it with no luck. Short of destroying/welding something to the bolt, we tried everything with no luck.

So now, before I make my call to Subaru to tell them I have this jacked up front driver strut, a little bit of sound in the front passenger and minimal sounds coming from the rears (sound seems to have diminished since the stock springs went back on), should I just take the car in with some kind of slightly made up story about the fronts and that bolt/nut or should I just purchase a set of used OEM front struts and wait and see if the sounds come back?

**Parker** · 03-10-2008, 08:05 PM

bump...hoping someone would chime in and give me your feedback.

***austinpike*** · 03-10-2008, 08:53 PM

Low-mileage takeoffs are plentful and cheap enough, I would just buy a used set and call it a day.

Realistically, with the RCEs on there, you could have shortened the life of the struts. It isn't really kosher to go in looking for warranty repair imho. That said, given it is a common issue, I wouldn't necessarily feel all that bad about bad about it. Although just looking at the nuts/bolts, the tech would probably be able to tell that you have swapped things out which could lead to an uncomfortable situation.

**Parker** · 03-10-2008, 09:29 PM

i think that's all I needed to hear...I am actually looking at some used struts right now because I don't think my fronts will be worth the hassle at the dealership.

thanks for your feedback! if anyone else wants to chime in, please feel free.

skeeler · 03-10-2008, 10:38 PM

I would go to a dealership that has as one or more of their employees, someone who regularly races their own subie's, etc. Not that it would get you a better outcome, but I think dealerships like these tend to be better advocates on behalf of their customers when dealing with SOA. I've had both fronts replaced twice and am pursuing a third replacement. Certainly, I'd like to learn more about better options for suspension, but until I can afford to revamp my entire suspension, I will stick with stock OEM STi struts. Keep pursuing the issue.

Boostpimp · 03-11-2008, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Over time, my rear passenger strut started making clunking noises so I wanted to put my stock springs back on so I wouldn't get any hassles, which was done yesterday. Now I took the liberty to install them and everything went just fine except when we replaced the bumpstops. After installing the bumpstops, the nut/screw that attaches at the bottom of the strut (closest to the ground) wouldn't tighten all the way and kept spinning. I figured we fubar'd the bolt to where the screw wouldn't tighten down all the way so we tried to remove it with no luck. Short of destroying/welding something to the bolt, we tried everything with no luck.

The rear strut is clunking because it needs to be completely dissasembled and re-packed with grease...unless it's blown. (If you remove the spring and compress the strut shaft does it rebound or just sit there compressed?)
The nut at the bottom of the strut that just keeps spinning will tighten if you lock the strut assembly into the strut housing by pushing it down and kinda' turning it until you feel it lock. Then the bottom nut will tighten because the bottom strut shaft won't spin once locked down into the housing. I know this because I just pulled my struts this weekend and did the same thing. PM me if you need further explanation.

**Parker** · 03-11-2008, 06:37 AM

I don't think it is blown but I was unscrewing the top part of the rear struts when my cousin and friend pulled it off and replaced the spring in a matter of seconds. but on my trip home, the sound seems to have gone away.

as for the front, now that i've driven on it, the bolt has been horribly fubar'd to where the threads are missing so the strut itself is done for. I would have to either try my luck with subaru or just buy a used set...the latter is what im doing.

and my other reasoning was I don't care to mess with my suspension every so often when they start making noise. I don't have the time/tools/location to be stripping my suspension down and regreasing them when needed. If this is a consistent problem with these struts, subaru needs to fix this.

nonissan · 03-11-2008, 07:46 AM

you could probably get away with warranty'ing them, but kinda shady since you messed them up...

i have some low milage take-offs for sale if you want. pm me if interested.

Blackfang · 03-11-2008, 08:04 AM

Best bet is to buy some used take offs for cheap. They will know that the struts were taken off recently and that will give them a reason for a possible denied claim. Now if you want to take a chance, then it is worth a shot.

03-09-2008, 10:26 AM	#1
Parker Photography Mod Car: 06 SGM STI Location: San Diego Posts: 3,275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Strut replacement under warranty question Well, im in a small predicament about whether or not to take my struts in to have Subaru replace them or should I just purchase a set of used front stockers. *Note: Aftermarket springs/struts aren't an option So here is my story (kinda long): I asked a friend to install the RCE yellows (v1) back in January, a person who I trust and knows a great deal about Subaru cars, all of which can be verified. Install went great, went on my way. Then back in July, I asked him if I could switch to Prodrive springs because the RCE's were just too stiff for me...swap was done. Over time, my rear passenger strut started making clunking noises so I wanted to put my stock springs back on so I wouldn't get any hassles, which was done yesterday. Now I took the liberty to install them and everything went just fine except when we replaced the bumpstops. After installing the bumpstops, the nut/screw that attaches at the bottom of the strut (closest to the ground) wouldn't tighten all the way and kept spinning. I figured we fubar'd the bolt to where the screw wouldn't tighten down all the way so we tried to remove it with no luck. Short of destroying/welding something to the bolt, we tried everything with no luck. So now, before I make my call to Subaru to tell them I have this jacked up front driver strut, a little bit of sound in the front passenger and minimal sounds coming from the rears (sound seems to have diminished since the stock springs went back on), should I just take the car in with some kind of slightly made up story about the fronts and that bolt/nut or should I just purchase a set of used OEM front struts and wait and see if the sounds come back? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-10-2008, 08:05 PM	#2
Parker Photography Mod Car: 06 SGM STI Location: San Diego Posts: 3,275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: Strut replacement under warranty question bump...hoping someone would chime in and give me your feedback.

03-10-2008, 08:53 PM	#3
*austinpike* Platinum Member Car: 2oo5 cgm STi Location: MN Posts: 1,926 Join Date: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: Strut replacement under warranty question Low-mileage takeoffs are plentful and cheap enough, I would just buy a used set and call it a day. Realistically, with the RCEs on there, you could have shortened the life of the struts. It isn't really kosher to go in looking for warranty repair imho. That said, given it is a common issue, I wouldn't necessarily feel all that bad about bad about it. Although just looking at the nuts/bolts, the tech would probably be able to tell that you have swapped things out which could lead to an uncomfortable situation.

03-10-2008, 09:29 PM	#4
Parker Photography Mod Car: 06 SGM STI Location: San Diego Posts: 3,275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: Strut replacement under warranty question i think that's all I needed to hear...I am actually looking at some used struts right now because I don't think my fronts will be worth the hassle at the dealership. thanks for your feedback! if anyone else wants to chime in, please feel free.

03-10-2008, 10:38 PM	#5
skeeler Professional STI Driver Car: '04 WRC Blue Pearl S Fav Mod: Nokian WR's, then RSi's, Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R's Location: Sumas, WA Posts: 419 Join Date: Feb 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Strut replacement under warranty question I would go to a dealership that has as one or more of their employees, someone who regularly races their own subie's, etc. Not that it would get you a better outcome, but I think dealerships like these tend to be better advocates on behalf of their customers when dealing with SOA. I've had both fronts replaced twice and am pursuing a third replacement. Certainly, I'd like to learn more about better options for suspension, but until I can afford to revamp my entire suspension, I will stick with stock OEM STi struts. Keep pursuing the issue.

03-11-2008, 06:37 AM	#7
Parker Photography Mod Car: 06 SGM STI Location: San Diego Posts: 3,275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: Strut replacement under warranty question I don't think it is blown but I was unscrewing the top part of the rear struts when my cousin and friend pulled it off and replaced the spring in a matter of seconds. but on my trip home, the sound seems to have gone away. as for the front, now that i've driven on it, the bolt has been horribly fubar'd to where the threads are missing so the strut itself is done for. I would have to either try my luck with subaru or just buy a used set...the latter is what im doing. and my other reasoning was I don't care to mess with my suspension every so often when they start making noise. I don't have the time/tools/location to be stripping my suspension down and regreasing them when needed. If this is a consistent problem with these struts, subaru needs to fix this.

03-11-2008, 07:46 AM	#8
nonissan Spec C Club Car: '06 steel grey, son. Fav Mod: learning how to drive stock first Posts: 1,003 Join Date: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Strut replacement under warranty question you could probably get away with warranty'ing them, but kinda shady since you messed them up... i have some low milage take-offs for sale if you want. pm me if interested.

03-11-2008, 08:04 AM	#9
Blackfang Senior STI Driver Car: Silver 07 Legacy Location: Somewhere in the universe Posts: 349 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Strut replacement under warranty question Best bet is to buy some used take offs for cheap. They will know that the struts were taken off recently and that will give them a reason for a possible denied claim. Now if you want to take a chance, then it is worth a shot. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.