I Have a 2002 wrx Bugeye which as started to make that knocking noise from the rear, thought i'd got away with it, my warranty runs out in December it is now booked in a Lucas in Mansfield, they should sort it out for me, shouldn't they ? any one else been there ?

 

ONE KNOCKING NOISE, WHAT A LIGHTWEIGHT!!!
I have a 2005 model WRX that is about to be booked in for its fourth replacement strut (2 rear, 1 front) in 12 months. (It's also had 2 top mounts) It's never been anywhere but public roads. (Oh, sorry, it's been with the dealer quite a few times) The car is a complete pile of overhyped nonsense. It's certainly quick, and handles OK, but how long before it turns into landfill?

 

The boot lock can be a big contributor to a rear knocking. Check that the noise is definately coming from one side, and not the middle. If it is, tighten up the catch so it shuts REALLLLYYYY tight.

 

This is just MAD!!!! - is something else causing these failures?

 

I know it is! There is absolutely nothing unusual in the use of the car either. With all the rally experience of Subaru, the suspension should be able to cope with the (admittedly pathetic) UK roads without this nonsense. I guess the only sure fire way to fix it is to shove it off Beachy Head, see what happens to the suspension then!

 

Back to the original posters question ...

Yes, make sure you tell them specifically about the noise and they document it and as long as its not something you have 'caused' should be resolved under the warrenty.. I think rear strut noise is not uncommon on bugeyes, mine certainly suffers from it, but as I'm out of warrenty I live with it.. could also be a worn ARB bush..

 

My car has done 25,200 miles can the arb bushes go that quick?, if that is what it is.

 

Could very well be this.

An excuse for some uprated droplinks and ARB me thinks..?

Oh and another newbie slagging a Subaru, there's a first...!

 

Well, one of mine went at 20K ('bout 3 years old) so like Jasonius suggests, I changed the droplinks to alloy ones .. may or may not be the problem though, so unless you want to upgrade the droplinks anyway, maybe investigate further or even try a cheap secondhand set of standard ones off S'net?

 

I've got a 2002 Sti. I've had both rear replaced under warranty.

 

A quick way of checking is to give the bushes (rubbers) a quick squirt of WD40 or similar. It usually cure the noise for a while, unless they are completely sh@gged..!

 

Just picked my car up, and yes they have found play in the rear left strut, so they have ordered me a new strut, and they are fitting it on wednesday.

 

While they're at it get a full set ordered, the only one I haven't had replaced is the front passenger side. They've just begun to replace the replacements on my delightful WRX now.
I think it's some bushing actually in the strut that's failing, not the insert itself.
When the knocking finally stops, I'll be able to concentrate on the grinding noise from the gearbox.