there is something rattling in the back of my car when i go over bumps. i'll listen for it again on the way home so that i can better describe it, but i figured i'd post here to see if anyone else has this same noise, or has heard it before.
http://tinyurl.com/6ppy6h Long thread, but may help. Subarus rattle. That's just a fact of life. :biggrin:
My rattlings were exhaust system and oem Jack. Somehow the exhaust kinda fix it self and the jack just needs to be tighten. Can't think of anything else. Maybe spare tire needs tightening. Check to make sure nothings in there with the spare tire. I got stuff fell in there I didn't know about until I actually took the spare tire out.
struts or exhaust...I had both needing a fix and now the rattle is gone. hopefully it isn't the struts.
yupp, they all go out, mine did. if you don't have a warranty, plan on anywhere from 1200 to 2000 bucks depending on the parts and labor of where you take it. I am sure there are cheaper ways to do it, but that's how the dealerships roll. my car also had more bouncing in the rear end when I would go around bumps on a corner while on the freeway. I thought it was just part of the sporty suspension since I was new to this type of car, but that went away after I got the struts replaced. Initially the dealership told me it was my exhaust hitting the bottom and I said maybe, but there is more than that. I told them to check it out again and they took it for a second test drive and realized it was the struts. I don't recall the exhaust even hitting, but they seemed to think it needed to hang lower away from the bumper and bottom of the car.
I'm willing to bet it was actually the stock grease that got grimy and "gave out." The struts themselves are well built and well valved. The inverted design doesn't lend itself to maintenance-free extended use, however. It's actually very simple to take the struts apart, scrape out the dijon mustard looking oem grease, and re-pack it with something like a Mobil-1 synthetic grease. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to unload the suspension (jack it up) and spray the shaft with white lithium grease every oil change. edit: also, Mories mtka FTW! $300 for a new strut unit (housing, cartridge, dust boot, top hat, hardware). Replacement for the a rear strut takes about 30 minutes to an hour.
well, it's taken me forever to get back to this thread. after listening to it more, it is more of a clanking noise. it better not be 1200-2000 to replace struts, or i am getting rid of the car now, i was planning on getting rid of it at the end of the year anyways. 300 for a unit sounds a little more reasonable. any special tools i would need for removal/installation of struts?
Not really. An open ended ratcheting wrench will help with the strut top mounting bolts. You'll also want a spring compressor if you are on stock (or stockish length) springs.
yeah, these are the stock springs/struts. i suppose i'll have to track down a spring compressor then...
i had a rattle with my old coilovers. turns out there was a crack growing on the lower self that holds up the bottom of the spring. it broke not too long after that. went ordered newer coilovers. if its a strut deal. check to make sure the spring is set right on the bottom of the strut. on my old car after having new springs put on i started to get a terrible clank/rattle in the rear. i took it to the guy who put the springs on and he fixed it in a couple min.
ok, it appears my rear driver side strut has exploded; there is oil in the wheel-well. should i just replace the one, or should i do both while i'm working on it? is it possible that the other one is bad as well, it just hasn't exploded yet?
are there any other parts i would need besides the strut? on subaruparts.com the visual shows about 8 different components, including the strut. also, any recommendations on a spring compressor? i've been searching for one, but can't seem to find any that aren't quite expensive. does autozone rent them out? edit: i'm looking at the following - http://www.napaonline.com/masterpag...Number=K334306&Description=Strut+-+Gas+-+Rear the napa site says it is a KYB GR-2. is this a decent strut? looks to me like it is pretty much an OEM strut, but just wondering what opinions people have. alright, i've called napa and advance auto parts, and both say this is a special order item is this going to be the case for this car no matter where i call?
What flavor Subaru do you drive anyways. If your going to order, check out http://www.cvrmotorsports.com/store/index.php?target=categories&category_id=9
2002 Subaru WRX am i reading this right? $265 for one strut, or is it the pair for the rear? http://www.cvrmotorsports.com/store/index.php?target=products&product_id=364 i talked to brian at minnetonka earlier, and he said the oem's were $119 and could get them mid-late next week. i've been doing some reading, and have gathered that the KYB RG-2's are oem replacements, but also deliver a little better performance. I can get the KYB RG-2's from advance auto parts in about the same amount of time. do i go with the oem from subaru, or the KYB's?
Honestly, if you're replacing all 4 go with the gr2. if you're replacing just the rears put up a WTB thread and get some cheap OEM ones. pm me if you need them installed
i'm gonna go with the 4 SPT struts/springs for $400 that are in the FS forum right now. i'm not sure how i didn't see those before...
