Weird Noise From Rear Near Side Wheel

[john_mchutchison]

Ok guys, when i park up my car its sounds like my rear spring/strut falls into place, like a "clunk" sound. Does it more when i reverse park.

Checked the spring today and no sign of any cracks/splits and no oil from the strut either but i did notice that the gap from tyre to

whee arch is about half inch smaller on said side.

Any suggestions/ideas most appreciated.

Forgot to mention its a 55 plate STI

Edited September 6, 2010 by hutch1973

[Chris180883]

Shocks or arb bushes/droplinks ???

[john_stevenson2]

Edited, 'cause I just read the word 'rear' in the OP

Edited September 6, 2010 by John Stevenson

[john_mchutchison]

Drop links looked ok, didnt seem to be any play in them.

[thebigfelly]

im no mechanic or mechanicly minded, just learn from experience or problems I or other people have had but i would sudjest -

Get under there and check your frame for cracking where the subframe bolts up. If that's not it, pull your carpet from the boot sides and check your rear shock mounts for tearing.

The second is the most common and the easiest to fix, the first is less common but more serious when it comes to repairs. Otherwise, are you sure the shocks themselves are ok? They could be bottoming out and it's the dead shock you're hearing.

option two - flat spot on the tyre? tyre not completely round , jack it up and feel around for a flat spot that could cause certain bang/crunch sound, but only if youve skidded or spun out the tyres ...

option 3 - wheel bearing or as what im having the now buckled wheel hub... but then youd probably notice the tyre sticking out the wheel arch as mine is and everyone noticed at the falkirk wheel meet lol

like i said im no mechanic in any way shape or form so maybe the more experienced members and hands on guys will have better sudjestions as to what it might be , but thats mine so far lol

[john_mchutchison]

Could be the roller bearing in the strut top has seized. The clunck may be the spring being 'wound' as you have a steering input

That sounds like a problem i had on my old Ford Orion Got lowered springs and the wound up then released pulling the car to the side, was quite scary driving to paisley and back from airdrie.

[john_mchutchison]

im no mechanic or mechanicly minded, just learn from experience or problems I or other people have had but i would sudjest -

Get under there and check your frame for cracking where the subframe bolts up. If that's not it, pull your carpet from the boot sides and check your rear shock mounts for tearing.

The second is the most common and the easiest to fix, the first is less common but more serious when it comes to repairs. Otherwise, are you sure the shocks themselves are ok? They could be bottoming out and it's the dead shock you're hearing.

option two - flat spot on the tyre? tyre not completely round , jack it up and feel around for a flat spot that could cause certain bang/crunch sound, but only if youve skidded or spun out the tyres ...

option 3 - wheel bearing or as what im having the now buckled wheel hub... but then youd probably notice the tyre sticking out the wheel arch as mine is and everyone noticed at the falkirk wheel meet lol

like i said im no mechanic in any way shape or form so maybe the more experienced members and hands on guys will have better sudjestions as to what it might be , but thats mine so far lol

What will that look like?

[thebigfelly]

What will that look like?

TORN

OR FOR PROPER KNACKERED SHOCK/MOUNTS

[john_mchutchison]

Cheers mate. went out to have a look, took of carprt thing in boot but no struts???? do i have to take out the back seats?

[StewartyBoy]

The spring could have snapped at the bottom in the seating where it can't be seen. I would also recommend jacking the car up, get a pair of gloves on and physically apply pressure to parts to make sure there isn't any play. When the car is on the ground, weight is applied so any play will be taken up by this.

Edited September 6, 2010 by StewartyBoy

[mystery machine]

Could also be the infamous 'knocking newage shock' syndrome... usually confirmed by checking for sideways play in the shock.

Many miles have your rear shocks done?

Edited September 6, 2010 by Mystery Machine

[john_mchutchison]

Could also be the infamous 'knocking newage shock' syndrome... usually confirmed by checking for sideways play in the shock.

Many miles have your rear shocks done?

The car has just under 32k on the clock, ive only had it for under a year so i dont know if they have been replaced or not.

[Spaceman]

it will just be knocking shocks that all the 05 on sti suffer from

spray the seal of the shocker wil some silicon sparay and if it goes away for a week then your sorted you can unbolt them and turn them 180 deg and repack with gresse.

[john_mchutchison]

it will just be knocking shocks that all the 05 on sti suffer from

spray the seal of the shocker wil some silicon sparay and if it goes away for a week then your sorted you can unbolt them and turn them 180 deg and repack with gresse.

Im not 100% convinced its that because it doesnt make any noise whn im driving, only when im parking or pulling away some times. Also that wouldnt make the ride height lower would it?

[Joe G]

Pretty sure it will be the shock! I went through 2 sets of rear shocks within 9000miles. And the klunking noise is more noticable when reversing at first, then it becomes worse and eventually will be heard at low speed when going forward. I drove the my old spec c with knocking shocks for a while but you could never hear it when driving normally, only at low speed!

[arch]

The spring could have snapped at the buttom in the seating where it can't be seen. I would also recpmmend jacking the car up, get a pair of gloves on and physically apply pressure to parts to make sure there isn;t any play. When the car is on the ground, weight is applied so any play will be taken up by this.

What he said , take the wheel off and have a right good look where the spring sits in the lower seat.

[john_mchutchison]

Well i tried to get my wheel of only to find i couldnt find my wheel locking key so ill have to order a new one from subaru, not a good day.

[thebigfelly]

nobody live close by that could stop by and let you borrow theres to get the wheel off?

[john_mchutchison]

Dont think they are all the same big man

[thefastone]

I'm sure that's what everyone was complaining about, that they were clunking when they stopped for the lights...