Mr Pants!

Ok, I did extensive searching of the forum before posting this and can not find the noise I am getting.

When I am moving slowly there is a knocking from the boot of the car, it sounds like the wood panel that covers the spare wheel, or possibly the huge spoiler on the boot.

Anyone else get this?

Elmer Fudpucker

Rear shocks?

My car could knock for England at low speed,both rear shocks being replaced under warrenty at the next service

Mr Pants!

Is there any way I can establish it is definitely rear shocks?

Elmer Fudpucker

On mine if you open the boot and bounce up and down a bit you can hear the knock,sounds almost as tho the exhuast pipe is banging slightly.

Your jack is secure I take it?

Mr Pants!

Yes it is secure and so is the tyre arm clipped to the lid.


I will try your bouncing idea and see.

boothy

I have a tapping sound from the parcel shelf /rear screen area of my wrx 03 have had people in the back while moving along etc. cannot locate and is driving me mad Subaru dealer unable to locate at last service.
Can anyone help before it drives me MAD!!!!!

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Check the boot lid to see how much force it takes to close. If it just needs to be pushed down to close, it could be bouncing slightly in the lock mechanism over bumps. Adjust the lock/catch so you need to slam it to close (not too hard!) - Worked on mine!
JohnD

Mr Pants!

Nice one JohD, funnily it does sound like that sort of noise. It is definitely coming from the boot.

supertouring

My rear seat knocks - on passenger side. More noticable at slow speeds.

If you hold the top and wiggle it back and forth you can hear it knocking. I stuffed a folded up cloth down the back of it till I can get time to take it off and see what the problem is. It has certainly reduced the noise.


MY03 Sti

Mr Pants!

I only ever hear it at manouvering speed, never when driving. If I am in a queue of traffic and rolling along on tick over in 1st gear it sounds like a sort of knocking noise.

It may be the fuel tank where the petrol slops around.

Mr Pants!

Okay, last night the noise was quite apparent. So I did as previously recommended by Elmer Fudpucker and yes there is a sort of knocking noise when I bounce the car up and down.

It almost sounds like the strut seal is sticking. Yet this morning when I bounced the car, it was fine, no noise at all.

christoff

I've just had this problem on my 2003 STI8, and its taken a bit of trial and error to resolve.
Basically, its the rear nearside strut top mounting or the strut itself that can be u/s. Its quite common apparently, and there is a Subaru bulletin that has been issued that outlines the possible causes / cures. Mine had two new top mounts in quick succession, followed by a new strut which has now (touch wood) cured the problem, under warranty by the way, thanks David Hendry Cars.
There are a couple of other potential causes like the boot spring which are also outlined in the bulletin.
But, basically, if you've got a warranty you should be ok if it turns out to be the strut or mounts.
Hope this helps you solve this irritating problem!
Chris

Mr Pants!

Thanks Christoff.


The car is now with SGT, the engineer mentioned something about the top mounting and replacement strut.

They seem pretty switched on at that garage so I am sure they will fix it.

Sti_Lad

I have had this problem and had it fixed quite quickly,.

It is the Rear struts, a design flaw means the insert sticks at almost the top of travel, this in turn allows the shock to bounce suddenly and also cause a nasty knocking noise...
If at low speeds you feel the rear of the car bounce, or like you have twenty pence shaped wheels then its more than likely the shock.
the annoying thins is everytime you jack the car up it goes for a week or so!

Well that was my experience... has both rear shocks changed and not a noise since! (oh and top mounts too)

Mr Pants!

Sti_Lad,


You have hit the nail on the head I think.

Yes, at slow speeds the car does bounce around like it has 20p shaped wheels. I just put that down to the hard ride.

So is it a smoother ride with the replacement struts

Mr Pants!

Yep, rear struts are being replaced, this car is on the faulty ones.


Sorted!

Smudga

Interesting, took mine in to dealer a few weeks ago they told me "nahh there all like that, checked it out all normal"

So yesterday so fed up with the 20p ride and knock had a good bounce about............noisey rear shocker o/side. Straight to garage, they now say best order some parts for that side, by the time I left it was 2 new shockers under warranty.

If there is a Subaru bulliten on it Why dont they know?? anyone know where to find the bulliten so it can be waved under their noses?

pistonbroke

I get a random creak and rattle that appears to come from the back parcel shelf, did as you suggest but when bumping the car up and down with the boot open I only got a click in each direction from each side of the car, not a knock as such. does this sound like the same symptoms you have?

Mr Pants!

Yes, exactly what I would get a sort of click noise, both sides.

Struts mate.

pistonbroke

B*gger! I know this is a bit of a numpty question so apologies now, but when you say struts do you mean the shock absorber's??

better trot off to the dealers with my 20p ride and get it sorted..........

cheers