Can i just add - i had the knock noise on the day i first had the AST's fitted (on way home)... i had assumed at the time that the "bang" was part an parcel of AST's until now.... now that people are saying theres pitting going on im a lot more concerned... will take car back to Powerstation

 

Sorry all - I havent read the whole thread - I saw something about knocking noises on the near side rear and had to comment

I have exactly the same noise at low speeds on exe-tc's and I had exactly the same rear noises on an Escort Cosworth with Leda suspension....... it is just the rear left - its really odd and I never understood it

Its really funny as I bought the exe-tc as a result of the comments on AST and I get the same issue with the Exe-tc's but I figure I'll live with it because its fine at high speed and the suspension makes for far improve handling. Its a pain at really low speeds in town - you almost want to stop the car, jack it up and check 'what the hell is it touching' - tried that it revealed nothing!

Pls all - dont assume this is an AST issue - it has to be a car design issue..........

 

I've got exe-tc aswell have...had the same noise, got whiteline arbs, droplink aswell, checked everything over the weekend and the drop links were not as tight as they should be, done over 50 miles since the knock as yet as not returned.

 

Sorry to resurrect this thread but wondered if Tim sorted out his banging.

I still get the bang/ suspension crash on pot holes/speed bumps and still wonder if the suspension is travelling too far and hitting the bump stops or maybe even binding the coils because it feels too harsh for bump stops.

Problem is that I still find the suspension too jarring and would still like to improve it some how.

So, on the one hand maybe a heavier spring to help resist the suspension travel but on the other hand I want a softer setting to reduce the jarring.

I've spoken with Curtis and am back off to Powerstation in 10 days to try to get a further improvement so if anyone has any suggestions from experience I would appreciate them.

Thanks

 

If you raise or lower the suspension you'll have to adjust the length of the bumpstops to avoid coil bind. The bumpstop is an integral part of suspension design and some fitters don't understand that and they won't even measure it!

 

I did not do any changes but, oddly, the major crash/banging has gone away of it's own accord! I can't explain it, but I was aware after 6 months or so that it just wasn't doing it any more!

Maybe it is bump stops they've simply given up the fight and fallen off

I am still delighted with my setup - it provides such an awesome combination of poise, suppleness, handling, plus comfort compared to stock STi suspension.

 

On my last visit I did ask Curtis to raise the car and he told me he had put in larger bump stops.

Let's be clear on this, it's not Curtis's ability I am questioning, I'm just trying to find anyone who has the AST suspension setup, ideally on a Hawkeye, who has managed to find a good balance between comfort and handling without crashing and bumping along the roads in their current state.

I'm guessing most of Curtis's clients are biased towards improving handling.

Perhaps I should have mentioned above that my springs are 50/30 and I am running what I believe to be a standard ride height.

 

Tim

I've just re-read your first post to find what car you have and notice that your fronts were OK; the problem was with your rears.

In my case, until recently, my problem was with my fronts and mainly the offside when going over speed humps and sounds similar to your initial problem.

Is your 05 a Hawkeye – maybe an early one? If so, I would be interested in your ride heights from wheel centre to wheel arch.

 

It's a 54 plate MY05 blobeye, but other than cosmetic changes I believe it is identical to an MY06 hawkeye. I will try and find time to measure the ride heights for you...but, tbh, I think mine is a bit low, since I'm on my 3rd front splitter already!!

 

Sorry to resurrect this thread again but am trying to find out how to stop the occasional very annoying clunk from the rear suspension.
I have the Sportline 1 coilover kit on STD rear top mounts they have done less than 7k road miles in 11 months.
I have tried silicone spray and it made no difference.
Will AST replace/rebuild the struts if the bearings are damaged due to the crap Subaru design? Or is it something that is just accepted to happen and tough luck?

Appreciate feedback from the people that had the problems earlier in this thread (2 years ago) and how you resolved it.

Thanks

 

I did 65,000 on my AST's (had the rear left clunk when going over potholes)

Curtis serviced/rebuilt them for me and I haven't had any clunks/noises since. Must have done another 25k on them since they were rebuilt and they are fine.

 

I think Curtis has a new design of rear spring now - "now" meaning about a year ago I think.

Mine still clunks occasionally, but the original problem seemed to go away of its own accors.

I will probably have them serviced in a year or so, and have the rear springs changed at the same time.

If yours are only 11 months old, I would speak to Curtis and see what he says.