Rear Strut Clunk Log

***Datadatum*** · 01-29-2005, 04:16 AM

So, I believe my STi has joined the rear strut clunk club.

For several days I was trying to figure out what was rolling around in the trunk, or back seat, or somewhere. A dissettling feeling that occurs when stopping or accelerating.

Then I started to suspect the suspension. I can reproduce the clunk sound by pushing the the driver side rear of the car up/down.

Push push push = clunk clunk clunk

I read several posts at this site, as well as the 22 pager on NASIOC regarding the topic. My symptoms appear consistent with a right rear strut problem. I will be taking the car into the dealer next week, and post their diagnosis.

EDIT: Go here for a solution to the clunk

Sideoiler · 01-29-2005, 08:43 AM

I'm already part of the club, welcome i guess. :cry: I've got a call from my dealer that my replacement struts are in and would I be able to bring my car in Monday AM. Ummm ya I can do that. They are replacing both rear struts under warrenty even though I have Pinks and tophats. I beleive they will want to align it also. I get the most noise when there are very small movements like backing off the driveway onto the street or driving slowly on broken surfaces. If I stand on the rear door sill and bounce it does the same thing as what you're discribing. clunk, clunk, clunk. Mine does it on both sides. :evil:

Jeff

***Datadatum*** · 01-29-2005, 09:06 AM

Sorry to hear your troubles, but glad to hear the dealer is warrantying your repairs. What year, and how many miles are on yours?

Mine is 2005, with a hair over 10,000 miles.

ScoreBo · 01-29-2005, 04:12 PM

I assume by replacing the struts that this noise goes away? I too have this and took it into the dealer and of course they couldn't reproduce the noise or the feeling.

Sideoiler · 01-29-2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datadatum

Sorry to hear your troubles, but glad to hear the dealer is warrantying your repairs. What year, and how many miles are on yours?

Mine is 2005, with a hair over 10,000 miles.

Mine's an'04 with 44,500kms, a little shy of 30k miles. It should all work out in the end. I'll know Monday night. I was told that it is an "internal strut failure." Hope you are able to get yours fixed under warranty.

Jeff

Sideoiler · 01-29-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScoreBo

I assume by replacing the struts that this noise goes away? I too have this and took it into the dealer and of course they couldn't reproduce the noise or the feeling.

ScoreBo, have one person sit in the rear seat on the side in question. With the door open, stand on the door sill and gently bounce. They should hear the noise right behind them from the package shelf area. Hope that helps, good luck.

Jeff

ScoreBo · 01-29-2005, 07:50 PM

I just pushed on the outside very lightly and heard the noise. I have been feeling the "dissettling" feeling and tried to explain this to my dealer with no avail. I am making an appt on Monday to get this taken care of. I am going to see if they will put on pinks and tophats too.

Thanks for the help.

Rev · 01-29-2005, 07:58 PM

Welcome to the club Joe

I thought my Pinks accelerated the process of my strut going bad, but I guess not, seems to be a chronic issue for 04's,... strange that I'm seeing it on 05s.

How does the clunk behave?

Now that we're on the 30's, I hear my clunk more noticeable. Under warm temperatures it gets worse, so come spring I'll buy a new strut.

When it's on the teens and lower, I can't hear my strut knock at all.

Just some ideas, maybe yours are endlinks being loose, or something

WE_R_ND · 01-29-2005, 09:16 PM

My car goes in this week for it's third strut. Starting to get pissed.

edykh · 01-29-2005, 09:37 PM

Change the rear strut will solve the problem for short time and it com back. I hear people say the main problem is the sturt top mount is too soft for high rate spring and the strut itself. if you change to groupN top mount will solve the problem, i may try it later. In winter time it make more noise and louder. It is so lound when i go in the undergroup parking.

**KingofImports.com** · 01-29-2005, 11:42 PM

Check this out and give some feedback if you could:
http://www.imprezawrxsti.com/postnuk...wtopic&t=20177

***Datadatum*** · 01-30-2005, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STi_Thunder

Welcome to the club Joe

Thanks, I guess.

Quote:

How does the clunk behave?

I have not been monitoring the clunk for more than a week. It is a soft reverberant sound that feels like something heavy loose in the trunk. The sensation is the most prevalent during sharp stops, and softer at quick acceleration. It is easiest to detect when stopping quickly while out of gear and without distractions (e.g., no radio, windows up, etc.).

Quote:

Now that we're on the 30's, I hear my clunk more noticeable. Under warm temperatures it gets worse, so come spring I'll buy a new strut.

I haven't been monitoring it long enough to note relationships to temperature. You should ask for warranty service like Sideoiler - the worst they can do is say "no."

===========

As for endlinks... it is an excellent suggestion, and something I've been considering. A cursory visual inspection indicated nothing out of the ordinary -- but I have not raised the rear of the car and done a true inspection. It is so damn cold in the garage - I'd rather just take it to the dealer. [/lazyness]

Sideoiler · 01-30-2005, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edykh

Change the rear strut will solve the problem for short time and it com back. I hear people say the main problem is the sturt top mount is too soft for high rate spring and the strut itself. if you change to groupN top mount will solve the problem, i may try it later. In winter time it make more noise and louder. It is so lound when i go in the undergroup parking.

I have the group N top hats installed. My noise got progressively louder over time no matter what the outside temp was. Recently hit -52C and the sound level didn't change, although the entire cabin rattled like a WW1 tank.

I think if I have the struts replaced and they fail, I'll look to the aftermarket for solutions. I mean they aren't that complicated, and there are many options to consider, I'd just rather not have to fork out the extra coin but I will to remain sane. It's that annoying.

Jeff

esemes · 01-30-2005, 06:25 AM

i wonder if it does it when the car/suspension is soaking wet.....

STiLL · 01-30-2005, 08:44 AM

So the groupN tops don't help eh?! As far as I've heard, that seemed to be the only solution to this problem??

I'm suprised Subaru didn't catch this problem on the production lines. They are definately aware of this but are slow to react. A friend of mine wrote to SOC explaining the suspension knocking, he got a reply letter stating that they were aware of this problem, but it hasn't caused "performance issues" with the cars handling so they're not really looking into it that much...???

01-29-2005, 04:16 AM	#1
*Datadatum* 100% More Wingless Car: 05 STi + 08 OBXT Fav Mod: baby seats Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 5,347 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Rear Strut Clunk Log So, I believe my STi has joined the rear strut clunk club. For several days I was trying to figure out what was rolling around in the trunk, or back seat, or somewhere. A dissettling feeling that occurs when stopping or accelerating. Then I started to suspect the suspension. I can reproduce the clunk sound by pushing the the driver side rear of the car up/down. Push push push = clunk clunk clunk I read several posts at this site, as well as the 22 pager on NASIOC regarding the topic. My symptoms appear consistent with a right rear strut problem. I will be taking the car into the dealer next week, and post their diagnosis. EDIT: Go here for a solution to the clunk This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by Datadatum : 04-15-2006 at 06:07 PM.

01-29-2005, 08:43 AM	#2
Sideoiler Spec C Club Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 1,463 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: Re: teflon tape I'm already part of the club, welcome i guess. :cry: I've got a call from my dealer that my replacement struts are in and would I be able to bring my car in Monday AM. Ummm ya I can do that. They are replacing both rear struts under warrenty even though I have Pinks and tophats. I beleive they will want to align it also. I get the most noise when there are very small movements like backing off the driveway onto the street or driving slowly on broken surfaces. If I stand on the rear door sill and bounce it does the same thing as what you're discribing. clunk, clunk, clunk. Mine does it on both sides. :evil: Jeff

01-29-2005, 09:06 AM	#3
*Datadatum* 100% More Wingless Car: 05 STi + 08 OBXT Fav Mod: baby seats Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 5,347 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: First time for warranty work - Leaky radiator Sorry to hear your troubles, but glad to hear the dealer is warrantying your repairs. What year, and how many miles are on yours? Mine is 2005, with a hair over 10,000 miles.

01-29-2005, 07:50 PM	#7
ScoreBo Junior STI Driver Car: 04 PSM STi Fav Mod: Stage 2 parts Posts: 110 Join Date: Sep 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Exploded view of engine? I just pushed on the outside very lightly and heard the noise. I have been feeling the "dissettling" feeling and tried to explain this to my dealer with no avail. I am making an appt on Monday to get this taken care of. I am going to see if they will put on pinks and tophats too. Thanks for the help.

01-29-2005, 09:16 PM	#9
WE_R_ND Spec C Club Fav Mod: Track Time Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,267 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Trade? 05' STi Silver BBS for Gunmetal wheels! My car goes in this week for it's third strut. Starting to get pissed.

01-29-2005, 04:12 PM	#4
ScoreBo Junior STI Driver Car: 04 PSM STi Fav Mod: Stage 2 parts Posts: 110 Join Date: Sep 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	I assume by replacing the struts that this noise goes away? I too have this and took it into the dealer and of course they couldn't reproduce the noise or the feeling.

01-29-2005, 07:58 PM	#8
Rev STI Guru Car: 06 V70R Location: Hoffman Estates, IL Posts: 5,544 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Welcome to the club Joe I thought my Pinks accelerated the process of my strut going bad, but I guess not, seems to be a chronic issue for 04's,... strange that I'm seeing it on 05s. How does the clunk behave? Now that we're on the 30's, I hear my clunk more noticeable. Under warm temperatures it gets worse, so come spring I'll buy a new strut. When it's on the teens and lower, I can't hear my strut knock at all. Just some ideas, maybe yours are endlinks being loose, or something

01-29-2005, 09:37 PM	#10
edykh Junior STI Driver Location: Canada Posts: 191 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Change the rear strut will solve the problem for short time and it com back. I hear people say the main problem is the sturt top mount is too soft for high rate spring and the strut itself. if you change to groupN top mount will solve the problem, i may try it later. In winter time it make more noise and louder. It is so lound when i go in the undergroup parking.

01-29-2005, 11:42 PM	#11
KingofImports.com Authorized Vendor Posts: 1,446 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Check this out and give some feedback if you could: http://www.imprezawrxsti.com/postnuk...wtopic&t=20177

01-30-2005, 06:25 AM	#14
esemes S204 Racer Car: 996TT Location: clearh²o, FL Posts: 4,756 Join Date: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (12)	ELECTRONIC BOOST CONTROLLER i wonder if it does it when the car/suspension is soaking wet.....

01-30-2005, 08:44 AM	#15
STiLL Senior STI Driver Posts: 308 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	RE: pic i found from TAS 2005 So the groupN tops don't help eh?! As far as I've heard, that seemed to be the only solution to this problem?? I'm suprised Subaru didn't catch this problem on the production lines. They are definately aware of this but are slow to react. A friend of mine wrote to SOC explaining the suspension knocking, he got a reply letter stating that they were aware of this problem, but it hasn't caused "performance issues" with the cars handling so they're not really looking into it that much...??? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.