marklemac

Big thanks Andy and all the guys @ Powerstation.

Didn't get much of a chance to 'test' it last night, but it felt smoother on the motorway, and the one roundabout I usually use as a test, I went round it like I was on rails. Normally the car would drift a little.....

GD7

Hi, I'm in Canada and own a 04 STi. Yeah, I went through two pairs of stock struts (under warranty) and still the problem persisted. The dealer admitted that the Subaru Canada guys told him that it was a bad batch of parts installed at the factory - mostly left side struts - so he was sympathetic and I didn't have to twist his arm to do the replacements; I got lucky. So I fixed the whole mess by replacing front and rear struts with JIC-Magic FLTA2 coilovers and top mounts. That was 25,000K ago and nary a rattle/shake/shimmy/or that annoying sinking feeling when stopping; unfortunately the price came dear - over CAD$2300. The benefits outweigh the price after enduring months of this bloody problem. Suspension adjustability, improved handling and much more fun factor.

LankyDave

Going to Sparshatts this morning to chat about Struts and Drop Links, what fun I've only had the car 3 days, I believed him when he said, they all do that! lets see if we can't fix it.

Dave

marklemac

Well the sales guy was right. They all do that, but you don't want yours too, so get them to sort it out.

Both my rears went, and they did finally swap them out under warranty, but it took the best part of 3 months for them to diagnose the problem !

In the end I took it to an independent, and then went back to Sparshtts and told them I wanted new ones.

Don't let them fob you off.....

G00ner

Second that, don't let them fob you off! they might all do it, but they shouldn't.

Then once it's sorted find another garage, Sparshatts do good deals on new cars, but aftersales is very poor.

LankyDave

Went to Sparshatts Yesterday, expecting to have an argument with someone about getting the new parts on warranty. I was dumb struck.

"No problem sir, we'll order the new struts and top mounts today for you, could you leave it with us next wednesday!"

I've not had the car a week, and I didn't buy it from them. Now that's service. we'll see if the banging goes away now.

davedipster

My dealer was the same, had the parts in stock already so they fitted them the same week. Top job as well, thanks to days of Chelmsford.

G00ner

Well my STi had five 8 hour visits,

'No Fault Found'
'We're not aware of any problems on STi shocks'
'We're speaking to Prodrive and Subaru about the issue'
'They all do that Sir'
'We'll get back to you asap'
'Subaru sent us the wrong parts'

Funny that when I sold the car to Keith Price, they had the fault diagnosed, the parts fitted and the car in the showroom in 3 days.

I'd been waiting over 8 months for Sparshatts to fix the problem.

Edit - 12 months later I'm still waiting for a phone call from them.

gingerboy

Took my 53 plate sti PPP in for a 30k servise today - only had it a month, mentioned the knock and the service manager just said no prob's we will order the part and see if it sorts it out.

Having now read this thread I won't hold my breath but at least they did not fob me off just said it was a common problem and it was covered under warranty.

Will let you know the outcome once the work is done next week.

Paul

GREGGYG

iTrader: (2)

Subaru UK should have recalled all STi's 2002 onwards to replace the rear faulty struts under warranty. Also, they should be replaced even after the warranty has expired, privided the car has full Subaru history. It's a bloody scandal. I'm on my 3rd STi with the same problem, my car has only done 20,000 miles and the rear nearside strut has 'failed'. My warranty expired 12 weeks ago. I am waiting for Colin at Cheam Motors to get back to me after he's spoken to Subaru UK. I've requested that the rear struts are replaced free of charge as a goodwill gesture, considering this problem is widespread on these particular cars. Plus my rear strut hasn't just 'suddenly' failed, they begin to fail gradually, with the knocking increasing as time passes by, and eventually play develops in the strut, rendering it dangerous to the cars handling.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

If they refuse to replace them free of charge, don't just stop there.

You could threaten to report them to BBC's Watchdog. Its a common complaint, and they have done features on cars before. It would look Subaru look very small if they did an article on them.

Also, the Sales of Goods Act says that things have to be of satisfactory quality. As they are clearly not, you should be able to have some sort of claim under this. Check with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Lastly, if all else fails, buy different suspension. Don't give them their money for ripping you off


Oh, and good luck

dadoc

hi guys i have a 2002 sti with the same knocking suspension it has 26k on the clock .subaru have agreed to replace it under warranty, which is fine ,but i always thought shocks had to be replaced as a pair to avoid an imbalance.has anyone had just the one replaced? is it ok to do so?

davedipster

My dealer replaced both and I had done 21k.
It's common and sensible practice to replace dampers as pairs, I must admit that when I worked on cars I always changed pairs. After 26k miles I would insist on pairs.

dipster

davedipster

BTW if you complained about both sides knocking then the dealer would replace both.

dipster

LankyDave

Exactly what I did, and they did. Both struts and top mounts were replaced last week with no arguments, the knocking has gone. . . . But for how long I ask myself. If they go again within 60k of replacement, I'll shall demand new one's even outside the car waranty. Being new, they should last at least a further 60k?

Who knows.

PHUQ

this is the exact issue I have just developed with my MY02 STiUK, does anyone know if there was a recall from Subaru for this fault for certain?

dadoc

i had new shock fitted and it knocked again after a few weeks jack the car up and coat the ram with silicone grease ,this is what i did and the knocking has gone three months later and still no knocking

GeeDee

iTrader: (2)

Just out of interest guys, when you say knocking are you referring to a light "rattle" at very low speeds as if some rubber bushes are loose but which diminishes with any reasonable speed?

Also, do you occasionally feel the car settle when stationary as if those same bushes were binding and then releasing.

dadoc

thats the one

GeeDee

iTrader: (2)

Thanks Dadoc, doesn't coating the ram with silicone grease attract dirt & dust and increase potential wear? (I suppose that's an irrelevant question on the basis that if grease wasn't used then the noise continues or shocks need replacing!!)

As mine have done 130k miles, I suppose I should replace them anyway.

GeeDee

iTrader: (2)

Fingers crossed! I used a rubber and nylon lubricant which is a silicon spray (I didn't find my silicone grease until after I had dropped the car)

Went for a short drive last night and not a rattle to be heard or felt. The next week or so will be the tester.

If this has fixed it I can not believe it is so simple when I have been asking for it to be investigated for the last 3 or 4 services!

stiprodrive

my sti is the last of the old shape 2005 and has only done 1500 mile and is cluncking on the rear nearside. Dealers just fob me off after spending all that money. I had better service when I bought my type-R (and less money)
Life goes on...

dadoc

just grease it up man, i used silicone spray as well but it didnt last long since putting on the grease no problems

davedipster

Take it to Days of Chelsmford and say the suspension is knocking at the back both sides.
Hey presto, within a week you will have new struts and top mounts fitted. They did mine last year and it has been fine since.


Top guys at days.

dipster

StiDoc

My 2004 Sti is booked in to have the knocking looked at tomorrow. Have there been any problems with the front suspension as well as that also seems to be making a noise ( or I suppose it could be being transmitted from the rear ). I assume that if replacement strust / mounts are fitted by Suabru then they are covered by a separate warranty to the car itself and if they fail they will be replaced free of charge.
As a grey import, I`ll probably have to cover the cost myself, any ideas of a rough figure for replacing struts and mounts on both sides of rear suspension ?

Cheers

PaulGooda

Subaru wanted £370 for one rear strut and one modified top mount, fitting included.

My reply nicely get stuffed, i'll go down the coilover route

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Agreed

More chance of flying to the moon unless complaint was logged wilst warranty was in force Everyone at 34months old should complain because a £ to a 1p they will go very sooon


M8 was quoted (No top mount) £220 +Vat+fitting looks like 2 Rears and a front about £1800 for all 4 and mounts

Way

MY05 STi

Started with a creaking in the front right ... Now i also have a clonk clonk clonk when driving slowly with an occasional jutter. Also, If i blip the throttle i get a loud CLOCK as if the LSD is locking up with alot of play.

Driving me insane... Subaru Locally wanted to charge me a fortune for 2 new shocks since my car no longer has a warranty with them due to mods.

Done 30 000 km.

Martin-STI

MY 05 STi
I have had both rears done now front has noise o/s.
Prosport say drop link? but might ask to change strut too .
This is a bit of a embarrassment really for Subaru due to supposedly top rally car. WTF going on?

MattW

Mine just been diagnosed and both rear struts to be replaced. 05 STi