Rear Strut Clunk Log - Page 36

***wdb*** · 10-21-2006, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rootus

There is a grease reservoir under the seal, eventually it runs out of grease, and the piston goes dry and starts clunking and sticking. Putting grease on the piston does help for a while. Even better would be to remove the strut, take it apart, and put grease back in the reservoir so it will last. What I'd like to know is what kind of grease comes in the strut from the factory, and can it be purchased?

I took my front struts apart to change out the bump stops when I installed Prodrive springs. It's a white lithium grease; I'd be surprised if it is anything terribly exotic. I use the white lithium 'grease' in a spray can; I clean off the old buildup first, and make sure I go all the way around when applying a layer. I like the spray stuff because it is quite thin when first applied and, in my mind at least, has a better chance of penetrating the upper seal and getting in where it will do a bit more good. The amount of time I go between applications can be measured in months.

Speaking of strut clunk: at ~30K miles I finally experienced the true "clunk" for the first time. Up until now I had occasional experiences with some relatively minor "click" and "clack" sounds coming from the struts, which went away with an application of grease. But last week, after getting my car back from having the 30K service performed, I started hearing some terrifcally loud "CLUNK" noises coming from the vicinity of the rear struts. The noise was so strong and ominous I thought the wheels were coming off. Seriously! I finally pulled off the road, got the lug wrench out, checked the lugs (they were fine), and pushed and pulled and rocked the rear wheels and suspension just to assure myself that there was nothing dangerously loose back there (there was not).

When I got home I jacked up the car and took a look at the struts. I could see 'chatter' marks on the strut body surface. Did the clean - spray - distribute routine and they're once again as quiet as new.

Now that I have heard the full-on "CLUNK" the struts are capable of making I will never again wonder why some folks rush immediately to the dealer to have them replaced. It truly was a frightening sound.

NSantana · 10-22-2006, 12:27 PM

Hello everyone,

I'm not sure if this has been covered so please don't burn me too bad if it has, I'm just trying to help. I took my 06 STI in 3 days ago because the rear clunk was unbearable, turns out that it was indeed my rear struts and that SOA has put out a TSB for their replacement. So all you 06 guys suffering from "the clunk" i hope this helps

CryFarKilla · 11-02-2006, 12:06 PM

w0w thats what that is huh..... i only have about 900 miles on my 06 and it does that crap all the time.........grrrrrrrrrrr

JASON

***wdb*** · 11-05-2006, 02:58 AM

Yes there is a TSB out on it, but as far as I know there is no actual fix. All the TSB does is get them to replace them without first grilling you slowly over hot coals about your mods. There is no word on a change in strut design or manufacture to actually cure the clunk, so the replacement struts will eventually clunk too.

normansti · 11-06-2006, 06:43 AM

looks like im getting coilovers

unreasonable · 11-18-2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twisterbrr

hey whats up guys. i just got the sti not too long ago. heck i still have under 1000 miles

. i was just wondering how many people with the 06 model has this infamous clunk noise and when did you buy the car.

I have an 06, clunkulation started maybe 1000mi ago, I'm at 19K miles now.

My office has a parking garage underground. This is gonna sound strange but if anyone has ever picked up a mini-fridge (like thoes in college) and shook it around the compressor makes a clunky noise almost identical to the sti. I know no one cares, i just like to ramble on

calisti · 11-18-2006, 01:35 PM

The clunk had come back on my Apexi N1 type v, but finally figured out when it was installed (not by me) that the preload adjustment wasn't done. This is so the spring sits snug between the two perches so it's not loose even when the suspension is not under load. I just had to loosen the locking ring under the bottom perch, then turn the perch counter clockwise so that it raised the spring up so it sits in the top perch snug without it wiggling between the two. Then to compensate for the height I loosened another locking perch at the bottom of the threaded body and with the perch wrench on the bottom perch I turned the whole threaded body clockwise so it lowered it into the bottom strut mount housing. I took a test drive with several quick left and right turns and some streets I knew with alot of uneven surfaces, no more rear clunking. I report back later on.

***Datadatum*** · 11-19-2006, 03:50 PM

A quick update on my car:

About 18 mos after I had my rear struts replaced, I just had them replaced again. As observed from my previous posts, I am fully aware of the DIY fix for the clunk. However, I decided to have them replaced under warranty at the 35,700 mile mark on my vehicle.

The car had mis-sized tires when I took it in (245/45R17), but the dealer did not make an issue (or even note) this difference. Nor did the dealer say anything about my engine/computer/drivetrain modifications. The suspension is still stock (with the exception of the different sized tires).

docd187 · 12-04-2006, 02:23 PM

I just had my two rear struts replaced under warranty by Colonial Subaru in CT. They didn't give me any problems whatsoever. Went in for some brake work and they checked the struts out and admitted they were clunking. Went back 2 weeks later and they installed them for me hassle free.

Darkiller · 12-04-2006, 02:37 PM

o have and 06 with RCE springs on .. the only time i hear clunking is when i go over a bump or a dip .. and i belive it is the spring moving on the metal.. metal to metal .. i belive i could fix it by putting a rubber ring at the bottom of the spring .. just my .02

o yeah never had a problem on stock spings since they have a small rubber seal around the bottom of the springs .. RCE has some rubber around the bottom 2 rings but not at the far bottom of the spring where it sits

lackskill · 12-18-2006, 06:09 PM

I had my RR replaced under warranty a few months ago, and exactly as predicted my LR is clunking as well. 05 w/ 29k stock suspension...

RAS_STI · 12-20-2006, 10:58 AM

started to hear RR clunk at 27K miles. i thought it started after my trunk swap. had SUBARU look at it, during a brake inspection. Bad strut. ordered. no charge. one week. getting it put on this Friday.

bada_bing. i hope the other one blows within the next 9k miles.

lackskill · 01-12-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lackskill

I had my RR replaced under warranty a few months ago, and exactly as predicted my LR is clunking as well. 05 w/ 29k stock suspension...

car went in today for 30k service and LR strut diagnosis... New LR strut on order...

arkleseizure · 01-21-2007, 06:39 AM

Glad that there are threads like this on IWSTI, otherwise I'd think I'm just going crazy.

Mine started the clunk a week or so ago...guess I'll be running it in sometime this week.

I'm right at 34k miles on my '05.

purreplayya69 · 02-04-2007, 10:46 AM

05 sti 9k miles on it now and im getting this crap.... slamming noise like something is moving in the trunk pissing me off so much i guess i have to spend more money on the car and buy coilovers AHHHHH

02-04-2007, 10:46 AM	#540
purreplayya69 The Next Petter Solberg Car: 2005 CGM/Gold STi Fav Mod: suspension! Location: NNJ Posts: 983 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (12)	05 sti 9k miles on it now and im getting this crap.... slamming noise like something is moving in the trunk pissing me off so much i guess i have to spend more money on the car and buy coilovers AHHHHH This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-22-2006, 12:27 PM	#527
NSantana Amateur STI Driver Car: White on Gold '06 Fav Mod: Stg50 Saab NG900 (AKA buying new STI) Location: Maryland Posts: 34 Join Date: May 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Hello everyone, I'm not sure if this has been covered so please don't burn me too bad if it has, I'm just trying to help. I took my 06 STI in 3 days ago because the rear clunk was unbearable, turns out that it was indeed my rear struts and that SOA has put out a TSB for their replacement. So all you 06 guys suffering from "the clunk" i hope this helps

11-02-2006, 12:06 PM	#528
CryFarKilla Senior STI Driver Car: 2006 Subaru STI Fav Mod: APS 3" TBE Location: Cali Posts: 350 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	w0w thats what that is huh..... i only have about 900 miles on my 06 and it does that crap all the time.........grrrrrrrrrrr JASON

11-05-2006, 02:58 AM	#529
*wdb* dances with roads Car: 2005 CGM STi Posts: 5,066 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	Yes there is a TSB out on it, but as far as I know there is no actual fix. All the TSB does is get them to replace them without first grilling you slowly over hot coals about your mods. There is no word on a change in strut design or manufacture to actually cure the clunk, so the replacement struts will eventually clunk too.

11-06-2006, 06:43 AM	#530
normansti Spec C Club Location: Dearborn MI Posts: 1,252 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	looks like im getting coilovers

11-18-2006, 01:35 PM	#532
calisti Professional STI Racer Car: 04 WRB STI Fav Mod: vf36 Location: 315 awhp 371 ft/lbs Posts: 807 Join Date: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (4)	The clunk had come back on my Apexi N1 type v, but finally figured out when it was installed (not by me) that the preload adjustment wasn't done. This is so the spring sits snug between the two perches so it's not loose even when the suspension is not under load. I just had to loosen the locking ring under the bottom perch, then turn the perch counter clockwise so that it raised the spring up so it sits in the top perch snug without it wiggling between the two. Then to compensate for the height I loosened another locking perch at the bottom of the threaded body and with the perch wrench on the bottom perch I turned the whole threaded body clockwise so it lowered it into the bottom strut mount housing. I took a test drive with several quick left and right turns and some streets I knew with alot of uneven surfaces, no more rear clunking. I report back later on.

11-19-2006, 03:50 PM	#533
*Datadatum* 100% More Wingless Car: 05 STi + 08 OBXT Fav Mod: baby seats Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 5,705 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	A quick update on my car: About 18 mos after I had my rear struts replaced, I just had them replaced again. As observed from my previous posts, I am fully aware of the DIY fix for the clunk. However, I decided to have them replaced under warranty at the 35,700 mile mark on my vehicle. The car had mis-sized tires when I took it in (245/45R17), but the dealer did not make an issue (or even note) this difference. Nor did the dealer say anything about my engine/computer/drivetrain modifications. The suspension is still stock (with the exception of the different sized tires).

12-04-2006, 02:23 PM	#534
docd187 STI Driver Car: 05 Subaru Fav Mod: WRX STi Location: New Fairfield Posts: 274 Join Date: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I just had my two rear struts replaced under warranty by Colonial Subaru in CT. They didn't give me any problems whatsoever. Went in for some brake work and they checked the struts out and admitted they were clunking. Went back 2 weeks later and they installed them for me hassle free.

12-04-2006, 02:37 PM	#535
Darkiller Spec C Club Car: 2006 STI BLUE Fav Mod: Fp20g and protune Location: 1000 oaks, SoCA Posts: 1,505 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	o have and 06 with RCE springs on .. the only time i hear clunking is when i go over a bump or a dip .. and i belive it is the spring moving on the metal.. metal to metal .. i belive i could fix it by putting a rubber ring at the bottom of the spring .. just my .02 o yeah never had a problem on stock spings since they have a small rubber seal around the bottom of the springs .. RCE has some rubber around the bottom 2 rings but not at the far bottom of the spring where it sits

12-18-2006, 06:09 PM	#536
lackskill Moderator Car: 05 Ram 3500 CTD Fav Mod: Majin Posts: 14,619 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (9)	I had my RR replaced under warranty a few months ago, and exactly as predicted my LR is clunking as well. 05 w/ 29k stock suspension...

12-20-2006, 10:58 AM	#537
RAS_STI The Next Petter Solberg Car: 05 STI - Cobb Stg 2 Fav Mod: Curb Feelers (driver side) Location: Half a lap ahead of you. Posts: 861 Join Date: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	started to hear RR clunk at 27K miles. i thought it started after my trunk swap. had SUBARU look at it, during a brake inspection. Bad strut. ordered. no charge. one week. getting it put on this Friday. bada_bing. i hope the other one blows within the next 9k miles.

01-21-2007, 06:39 AM	#539
arkleseizure Spec C Club Car: 00 S2000, 04 WRB STi Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,021 Join Date: Jun 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Glad that there are threads like this on IWSTI, otherwise I'd think I'm just going crazy. Mine started the clunk a week or so ago...guess I'll be running it in sometime this week. I'm right at 34k miles on my '05.