[SCOOBYTRAP]

I think I'm finally in this club, read alot about it. been hearing some major clunks lately from the rear...

So I can do the following:
-stop driving like a grandma, go for a romp and get the shocks to move into their travel, which will help lube things up.
-apply Mobil 1 lube to strut shafts
-install prodrive springs...which would again move the shock into its travel further. not sure about this one?
-go to dealer for them to diagnose and hopefully replace

all of the above is a temporary fix? I mean, it seems inevidable that this happens with the inverted design. SO, as you go down this list the reoccurance of this problem gets smaller? Or replacement struts = SOA has this problem fixed?

[Majin]

Thank you Rev - a big contributor once again! let me know if this is not correct - i want to make this post accurate.

everyone - after reading this thread, you can see that the clunk can be prevented/stopped by greasing up the struts with the red grease Rev listed above...

the information that follows was modified from Rev's posts in post number 138 and in post number 140:


• Jack the car up

• Take off your rear wheels

• Inspect the strut and the strut seals (there should be some accumulation of debris on the seal)

• Pull the accordion plastic sleeve that covers the piston up (not that it does a good job in keeping debris out of the piston)

• Clean off the debris - the strut perch and the seal - (spray some WD-40 on the strut piston and wipe the seal clean)

• You will want to apply generous amounts of the grease on the strut seal itself besides adding it to the piston.

• Once the piston compresses, it will rub off the grease and some of it will be deposited in the internal grease reservoir of the strut.

• Put the car down


(this is all done to the bottom of the strut - nothing is done on the top of the strut)

the "clunk" may/may not come back, but this should be a temporary solution for it.

it looks like there may be some "stiction" between the seal and the strut piston, when there is debris on top of the seal or something, or when the piston is not lubricated (probably dried out with salt from winter - or various other factors).

do this once every couple months ... doesn't hurt

(maybe every time you change your oil this should be done)

[RiX]

Originally Posted by krees23

I've been getting irritating rattles that seem to be coming from both left and right rear of the car. It usually only happens at lower speeds and it kind of sounds like the exhaust banging against something. I checked the exhaust and it's pretty solid and not banging anything. I took everything out of the trunk - no change in sound.

Do you think this could be the infamous "strut clunk"?

Two other possibilities (in addition to the "strut clunk" one):
- shot swaybar endlinks
- broken exhaust hangers

When I had a similar issue, at least in my case, the source of the noise were the rear swaybar endlinks.

[Rev]

Originally Posted by Majin

Thank you Rev - a big contributor once again! let me know if this is not correct - i want to make this post accurate.

everyone - after reading this thread, you can see that the clunk can be prevented/stopped by greasing up the struts with the red grease Rev listed above...

the information that follows was modified from Rev's posts in post number 138 and in post number 140:

• Jack the car up
• Take off your rear wheels
• Inspect the strut and the strut seals (there should be some accumulation of debris on the seal)
• Pull the accordion plastic sleeve that covers the piston up (not that it does a good job in keeping debris out of the piston)
• Clean off the debris - the strut perch and the seal - (spray some WD-40 on the strut piston and wipe the seal clean)
• Put the car down

(this is all done to the bottom of the strut - nothing is done on the top of the strut)

the "clunk" may/may not come back, but this should be a temporary solution for it.

it looks like there may be some "stiction" between the seal and the strut piston, when there is debris on top of the seal or something, or when the piston is not lubricated (probably dried out with salt from winter - or various other factors).

do this once every couple months ... doesn't hurt

(maybe every time you change your oil this should be done)

I think this basically resumes it. One thing that I noticed too, is you want to generously apply the grease on the strut seal itself besides adding it to the piston. Once the piston compresses, it will rub off on the grease and some of it will be deposited in the internal grease reservoir of the strut.

[Majin]

^ i will update - thank you Rev!

[SpYdEr2723]

well it looks like I have this problem too. I would try the relube but since I already have to go in for the synchros I might as well get some new shocks out of the trip as well. So for this weekend, time to unmod everything At least I haven't gone so far as to do a turbo upgrade yet

[SCOOBYTRAP]

Mine was clunking bad and I didn't want to deal with dropping car off at dealer (for now). I cleaned the strut seals (used a toothbrush then wipe) and lubed 'em up with Mobil 1 grease. Its 30 degrees out and clunk is gone. Thanks guys, we'll see how long its lasts.

[BluFlame]

I've had both rear struts replaced.....about 3,500 mi ago. Now I'm having the same problem with the right rear. Back to the dealer before my 2004 warranty runs out! Has anyone figured an answer to this one...without going to Koni's, coilovers etc? Thanks,

BluFlame

[STEye]

I think that's cool that the lubing works to fix the clunk, but I think doing it ever couple of months is a BS. That is not a standard maintenance item, and I think Subaru is doing a poor job in correcting the problem. I don't want to start a flaming war, just my opinion! I know this car is loud and makes creaking noises, but a loud "clunk" is not acceptable, my passengers are like "WTF is that noise??" BTW, my car is in for service right now for the other rear strut... I have heard from the tech (A good friend of mine) that they won't replace struts now, (Maybe he said replace them twice?). I guess I'll keep you informed.

[Rev]

Originally Posted by STEye

I think that's cool that the lubing works to fix the clunk, but I think doing it ever couple of months is a BS. That is not a standard maintenance item, and I think Subaru is doing a poor job in correcting the problem. I don't want to start a flaming war, just my opinion! I know this car is loud and makes creaking noises, but a loud "clunk" is not acceptable, my passengers are like "WTF is that noise??" BTW, my car is in for service right now for the other rear strut... I have heard from the tech (A good friend of mine) that they won't replace struts now, (Maybe he said replace them twice?). I guess I'll keep you informed.

Replacing the struts ain't the solution. It's more a pain in the ass to bring the car to the stealership to get your car serviced than to take 10 minutes lubing the struts and doing this every 3 months.

[STEye]

I guess I'm lucky I have friends at the dealership Anyways, my point is they struts were not engineered correctly from the start... at least for this application. That's Subaru's bad (Really the blame is on KYB, but Subaru chose them) Anyways, the important thing is that there is an alternative to going to the dealer.

[Rev]

We have already discovered the root cause of the problem... Subaru isn't going to do anything, unless you purchase an 06, in which your clunk will be gone. At least I haven't seen anyone complain about the clunking...

At least the lubing solution works. I don't plan taking my car anytime to put in new struts.

[skeeler]

I'm going in next week for replacement for my fifth strut (3rd for left side). I just had the right side replaced in November. Way I figure is, Subaru is not going to lose any money on the replacement of the strut. I can't see why KYB isn't going to get billed for the changeout of the strut, including the labor. Also, if there is a certain number of struts that get returned to KYB, it seems that KYB would have to "eat" the cost at a more substantial rate.

So, if you have a faulty strut, it behooves you to benefit yourself, and Subaru, to get it replaced. I don't know if this would be a legitimate reason for SOA to have us bring in our STi's for strut replacement, but it seems like it would be a good reason. Could be a win-win situation.

We all paid over $30k for our cars, that in itself should entitle ALL of us to show up at the dealerships' doorsteps to receive the best service due for us all being such loyal customers.

Hear, hear!

[Majin]

in the meantime, for those who don't wish to replace them...

[STEye]

Welp, My car has been in for service for the past week... The dealer is going to replace the left rear strut. He also found out that I have a bad wheel bearing, which he replaced. To be honest with you, I'm happy with my car, but these little annoying things are starting to piss me off. I'm happy they haven't been major issues (knock on wood!), but if I wanted car problems, I could have gone with a chevy...