Rear Strut Clunk Log - Page 9

***Datadatum*** · 03-26-2005, 10:24 AM

STi Bri - that is what my left rear was like when the I took it to the dealer. Stops/starts made a racket. Don't suffer with it, just take it in...

STi_BRi · 03-26-2005, 11:01 AM

I can actually hear mine to to about 45mph now too

Ol'SaltyBastard · 03-26-2005, 02:39 PM

I just had mine replaced, and it's still there!!!

I'm thinking it may be the Cusco sway bar hitting something. I recently replaced the endlinks with Pol-Tecs, just to see if the Perrin end links were the cause. Same noise as before. Also, when turning left, I get this horrible clacking noise, which sounds like 20 quick thunks. I think I will completely remove the sway bar tomorrow, and see if it goes away.

SamsonLi · 03-26-2005, 03:48 PM

Just got the replace my new rear strut from dealer. all clunk noise gone. last week I took my car to dealer check the clunk noise from left rear trunk. two hours later they call me back ask me the strap broken they need to replace the new one for me. so today I take my car back to dealer for replace the strap. three hours later I got the new strut. lucky still under warranty. and they also replace the new tail light for my car because some like smoke inside..

skeeler · 03-26-2005, 10:29 PM

There has been enough time elapsed now, with this rear strut issue with the Sti's.

It's time to initiate a class action suit, or band together to remedy the strut issue just like the Subaru owners did with the WRX clutch issue.

Speaking of which, I've got 44,000 miles on my '04 Sti and I feel there is too much clutch shudder which makes it very challenging to find just the right rpm to shift gears and start from a dead stop. I find it easier and smoother most of the time to start from a slight rolling start in 2nd instead of 1st.

JSK · 03-27-2005, 01:22 PM

I've got it too (04 STi). My right rear at 25K miles. At first the dealer said they were going to ask their rep since I had modded it with a carbon rear strut brace. We shall see what they say this week. The Parts manager did say they were aware of the issue and that the 05 actually got different struts. He also mentioned that the new one (if they order it) is an updated strut (or at least the part number). My question, Is it Okay to just replace one strut without the other? like with tires, you would not replace just one tire on the same axle with wear on the other.

I do agree with starting a petition... Anyone interested? My wife works for a law firm an is a Sr. Legal assistant, maybe I should ask to ask her associates what the best way to proceed would be.

I had a 01 Acura TL, a couple of years after I bought it, Acura sent me a letter stating they were having issues with some automatic transmissions but their was were not recalling it. They did however recognize the problem and extended the warranty on the trans to 120K miles. Turns out 3 moths later my wife got stuck on the way to work. Acura picked up the car and replaced the trans with a new one with the necessary updated bearings that were causing the issue (at no cost).
POINT: Subaru should at least do the same with extending the warranty.

**tcam33** · 03-27-2005, 05:35 PM

05, just over 8000km. Same symptoms when driving at a crawl speed. I can replicate it by pushing the back end up and down. Off to the dealer I go

rasetsu · 03-28-2005, 12:51 PM

2005 with just over 4K miles. One of the rear struts makes a clunking noise when going over a driveway under 5mph at an angle. I've only heard it twice so far so not sure what side it's coming from. Dealer will probably deny a warranty claim since I have pinks, Group N mounts, and strut tower bars installed.

Rev · 03-28-2005, 04:31 PM

Yesterday I took my rear wheels and with the car jacked up, I inspected the strut and the strut seals .. there was some crap accumulated on the seal ...

So I cleaned the strut perch from debris and the seal as well ... I sprayed some WD-40 on the strut piston and wiped the seal clean...

Put the car down ... and the clunking is gone (both my struts were clunking badly lately).

I'm sure it'll come back, but I know the temporary solution for it, at least.

So it looks like there is some stiction between the seal and the strut piston, when there is some crap on top of the seal or something, or when the piston is not lubricated (probably dried out with salt from winter).

Anyways, thought that you guys might want to try that.

edykh · 03-28-2005, 07:29 PM

Do you mean the bottom of the strut or the top mount? I may clear it later, hope to slove mine too.

Rev · 03-28-2005, 07:56 PM

bottom of the strut ... nothing done on the strut top...

I pulled the accordion plastic sleeve that covers the piston (well it doesn't do a good job to keep debris out of the piston anyways) and cleaned the crap that was on the rubber seal.

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

**tcam33** · 03-29-2005, 06:50 PM

I did pretty much the same thing just cleaned the spring seat while I was at the car wash. A liberal amount of water was used. I swear a pound of crap was in there (lots of sand on the roads here in the winter). I could create the clunk by pushing on the open trunk lip and could actually feel the clunk, now after the cleaning nothing???? I am perplexed that some water could lubricate it enough to stop such a severe noise. Or was it the sand in the seat? We will see how long it lasts.

NCWSTi · 03-29-2005, 08:09 PM

so today i had an appt for my clunk went in they took it for a drive jacked it up
and what do u know i was missing an exhaust hanger bolt and it was causing the noise
so they replaced it and drove it some more and guess what no more noise
i tore it up and really tested it and sure enough no noise

cost me nuttin at all

jpas · 03-30-2005, 06:20 AM

I had my struts changed and within 100 miles it was clunking again. If you lift the car up and down again, the clunk goes away for a couple of 100 miles and them comes back, I don't know if cleaning and lubing is helping or is it just the fact that when you lift the car you are fully extending the strut/suspension travel. It sounds like a POS, I can't believe people are trying to say the car is made for performance and we should accept the clunk, I drove a Formula Ford car around a track that has less noise.

skeeler · 03-30-2005, 06:41 PM

I would really like to get the Sti coilovers as a standard replacement for the stock struts. I can't imagine Subaru really losing money on this idea, unless they lose customers.

For example, since the dealership in Burlington gave me the satisfaction I expected and deserved, I told them as soon as I have the money for my next Subaru, I will buy from their lot. Sorry, but when dealerships like Dewey Griffin put on an act like they did with me, they will have limited business from me.

03-26-2005, 10:24 AM	#121
*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)	STi Bri - that is what my left rear was like when the I took it to the dealer. Stops/starts made a racket. Don't suffer with it, just take it in... This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-26-2005, 11:01 AM	#122
STi_BRi STI Driver Car: '05 Platinum Silver Location: Poconos, PA Posts: 239 Join Date: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Brand new BPM TT Axleback, it rocks !!! I can actually hear mine to to about 45mph now too

03-26-2005, 03:48 PM	#124
SamsonLi Amateur STI Driver Posts: 9 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: ditch my typhoon? or keep it? Just got the replace my new rear strut from dealer. all clunk noise gone. last week I took my car to dealer check the clunk noise from left rear trunk. two hours later they call me back ask me the strap broken they need to replace the new one for me. so today I take my car back to dealer for replace the strap. three hours later I got the new strut. lucky still under warranty. and they also replace the new tail light for my car because some like smoke inside..

03-26-2005, 10:29 PM	#125
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)	Nopi nationals 2005 There has been enough time elapsed now, with this rear strut issue with the Sti's. It's time to initiate a class action suit, or band together to remedy the strut issue just like the Subaru owners did with the WRX clutch issue. Speaking of which, I've got 44,000 miles on my '04 Sti and I feel there is too much clutch shudder which makes it very challenging to find just the right rpm to shift gears and start from a dead stop. I find it easier and smoother most of the time to start from a slight rolling start in 2nd instead of 1st.

03-27-2005, 01:22 PM	#126
JSK Junior STI Driver Car: White 2004 STi Location: Houston, TX Posts: 141 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: $5,000 to spend ...what to buy? :) I've got it too (04 STi). My right rear at 25K miles. At first the dealer said they were going to ask their rep since I had modded it with a carbon rear strut brace. We shall see what they say this week. The Parts manager did say they were aware of the issue and that the 05 actually got different struts. He also mentioned that the new one (if they order it) is an updated strut (or at least the part number). My question, Is it Okay to just replace one strut without the other? like with tires, you would not replace just one tire on the same axle with wear on the other. I do agree with starting a petition... Anyone interested? My wife works for a law firm an is a Sr. Legal assistant, maybe I should ask to ask her associates what the best way to proceed would be. I had a 01 Acura TL, a couple of years after I bought it, Acura sent me a letter stating they were having issues with some automatic transmissions but their was were not recalling it. They did however recognize the problem and extended the warranty on the trans to 120K miles. Turns out 3 moths later my wife got stuck on the way to work. Acura picked up the car and replaced the trans with a new one with the necessary updated bearings that were causing the issue (at no cost). POINT: Subaru should at least do the same with extending the warranty.

03-26-2005, 02:39 PM	#123
Ol'SaltyBastard Spec C Club Car: 1983 Mercedes Benz 3 Location: N. Kentucky/Cinci Posts: 1,464 Join Date: Feb 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I just had mine replaced, and it's still there!!! I'm thinking it may be the Cusco sway bar hitting something. I recently replaced the endlinks with Pol-Tecs, just to see if the Perrin end links were the cause. Same noise as before. Also, when turning left, I get this horrible clacking noise, which sounds like 20 quick thunks. I think I will completely remove the sway bar tomorrow, and see if it goes away.

03-27-2005, 05:35 PM	#127
tcam33 Gold Member Car: 05 WRB STi Fav Mod: 1.mod 2.???? 3.profit Location: Edmonton Canada Posts: 245 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	05, just over 8000km. Same symptoms when driving at a crawl speed. I can replicate it by pushing the back end up and down. Off to the dealer I go

03-28-2005, 12:51 PM	#128
rasetsu Spec C Club Car: 05 Subaru WRX STi Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 2,270 Join Date: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	2005 with just over 4K miles. One of the rear struts makes a clunking noise when going over a driveway under 5mph at an angle. I've only heard it twice so far so not sure what side it's coming from. Dealer will probably deny a warranty claim since I have pinks, Group N mounts, and strut tower bars installed.

03-28-2005, 04:31 PM	#129
Rev STI Guru Car: 06 V70R Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 5,544 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: cai Yesterday I took my rear wheels and with the car jacked up, I inspected the strut and the strut seals .. there was some crap accumulated on the seal ... So I cleaned the strut perch from debris and the seal as well ... I sprayed some WD-40 on the strut piston and wiped the seal clean... Put the car down ... and the clunking is gone (both my struts were clunking badly lately). I'm sure it'll come back, but I know the temporary solution for it, at least. So it looks like there is some stiction between the seal and the strut piston, when there is some crap on top of the seal or something, or when the piston is not lubricated (probably dried out with salt from winter). Anyways, thought that you guys might want to try that.

03-28-2005, 07:29 PM	#130
edykh Junior STI Driver Location: Canada Posts: 191 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Do you mean the bottom of the strut or the top mount? I may clear it later, hope to slove mine too.

03-28-2005, 07:56 PM	#131
Rev STI Guru Car: 06 V70R Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 5,544 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: Went wingless... pics inside bottom of the strut ... nothing done on the strut top... I pulled the accordion plastic sleeve that covers the piston (well it doesn't do a good job to keep debris out of the piston anyways) and cleaned the crap that was on the rubber seal. I might do this once every couple months .. doesn't hurt.

03-29-2005, 06:50 PM	#132
tcam33 Gold Member Car: 05 WRB STi Fav Mod: 1.mod 2.???? 3.profit Location: Edmonton Canada Posts: 245 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: Re: RE: Three things I HATE about Gran Turismo 4 I did pretty much the same thing just cleaned the spring seat while I was at the car wash. A liberal amount of water was used. I swear a pound of crap was in there (lots of sand on the roads here in the winter). I could create the clunk by pushing on the open trunk lip and could actually feel the clunk, now after the cleaning nothing???? I am perplexed that some water could lubricate it enough to stop such a severe noise. Or was it the sand in the seat? We will see how long it lasts.

03-29-2005, 08:09 PM	#133
NCWSTi Grassroots STI Racer Car: 04 JBP STI Fav Mod: Anything i put on my car!!! Location: Washington Posts: 526 Join Date: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: Drove a 350 Z tonight... Puuuffffffft!!! so today i had an appt for my clunk went in they took it for a drive jacked it up and what do u know i was missing an exhaust hanger bolt and it was causing the noise so they replaced it and drove it some more and guess what no more noise i tore it up and really tested it and sure enough no noise cost me nuttin at all

03-30-2005, 06:20 AM	#134
jpas Amateur STI Driver Posts: 10 Join Date: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: RE: Drove a 350 Z tonight... Puuuffffffft!!! I had my struts changed and within 100 miles it was clunking again. If you lift the car up and down again, the clunk goes away for a couple of 100 miles and them comes back, I don't know if cleaning and lubing is helping or is it just the fact that when you lift the car you are fully extending the strut/suspension travel. It sounds like a POS, I can't believe people are trying to say the car is made for performance and we should accept the clunk, I drove a Formula Ford car around a track that has less noise.

03-30-2005, 06:41 PM	#135
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: any houston area sti owners I would really like to get the Sti coilovers as a standard replacement for the stock struts. I can't imagine Subaru really losing money on this idea, unless they lose customers. For example, since the dealership in Burlington gave me the satisfaction I expected and deserved, I told them as soon as I have the money for my next Subaru, I will buy from their lot. Sorry, but when dealerships like Dewey Griffin put on an act like they did with me, they will have limited business from me. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.