evil.soup

iTrader: (1)

I have an 06 WRX and its covered 45k. In that time it has eaten 2 sets of rear shocks or is it the strut mounts that keep going, i don't know? Anyway, the knocking is starting to get on my wick and after serching i still cannot find a defined long term solution that doesn't mean big money conversions.
I am very happy with the way the car drives and handles at the moment so an OEM style replacement would be fine but i don't really want to re-visit this issue after another 20k.
Does anyone have any ideas or solutions to the problem??

Empty

Go for the group-N uprated mounts, they are a bit harder but last a lot longer.

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

Ive fitted grease nipples to mine and changed the rear outrigger bushes. Clunking is gone for 99% of the time.

Here is the process for rear strut grease nipples

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1911692

evil.soup

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info so far gents, that link leads to a very interesting write up.

So am i right in thinking that the strut lubrication issue leads to the quick wear of the strut mount?

So an uprated mount will resist wear longer but the cause will still remain unless the strut is replaced or modified as in the link?

I am starting to understand why there are so many recomendations to fit after market coilovers etc when ever i do a search on the subject but thats the last thing i want!

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

The strut lube issue is the cause of the shocks wearing and making a knocking noise. Not sure if there is a issue with the mounts but the lube fix wont make any difference to the mount - two different parts of the strut.

evil.soup

iTrader: (1)

Thats where it all gets a little confusing. So which is the common issue or are both issues common?
As far as i am aware they both have simular symptoms so how do you identify which is at fault?
Does the WRX suffer the strut problems, as most if not all references i have seen have been to the Sti?

I drive an 06 WRX by the way and sorry for all the questions!

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

Ive always thought that its the strut that has problems, Ive researched it a lot when I got the clonking noise on my STI and didnt read much about the mounts. Maybe the WRX has issues with the mounts but Ive not heard anything.

Tomwrx

iTrader: (54)

i had the same prob on my 07 wrx and got them replaced last yr before the warranty ran out, when they go again its coilovers for me

Tidgy

reaplace them, simple as, anything else is just covering it up.

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Mine are exactly the same after replacing about 25k ago, The fronts will probably need doing as well as they are the original set.

For the standard KYB's you're looking at £400ish + fitting.
Very tempted by a set of decent budget coilovers myself...

jh1

it is the struts mate. it is a very common problem. happens to sti,s and wrx. the best fix is coilovers imo and you can pick your spring rates from bc racing for instance.
why oh why didn,t subaru nip this in the bud???????????????

davedipster

The rears wear out due to lack of lubrication of the top bush, this is partly due to the rather poor design and the fact that the rear travels less, so the grease goes hard and does not do it's job.
The fronts do not fail because the front struts move much more, so more lubrication.

The only solution is either lubricate monthly from day one by stripping apart/fitting nipples. Or as most of done, throw the KYB rubbish in the skip and get coilovers.
I got through 2 sets of KYB's in 3 years from subaru, then greased them but soon gave up and got BC coilovers.
These have been great for over 2 years!

dipster

evil.soup

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info so far gents.

Coilovers was something i was looking to avoid and im certainly not going to put OEM parts back on. Is there a basic aftermarket system that can be fitted or is coilovers the only way forward?
Ian

mervil

iTrader: (5)

I changed to KWs Ian, not as harsh as most of the coilovers out there and spot on to fit and setup too! Ride height adjustable is always a winner too

evil.soup

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Merv, its starting to look like coilovers are the only choice or get 3 sets of the OEM ones and be ready to change them every 2 years!

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

As above most common is the sound of the gas insert just moving around in the strut body.

There's nothing wrong with the shock/gas insert itself. The gas insert slips inside the strut and has a collar to keep it in place, when assembled they have grease in between them. After a while the grease hardens or disappears and the gap gives way to allowing the gas insert to move inside the strut, the result is a knocking noise.

I put a link up a while back to when I did some on an Evo 6 (they have same problem) I've also succesfully stripped and greased one of the rear shocks on my bugeye Sti.

Grease nipple is a good idea, think I'll do that.