Just had my 95WRX in the Subaru dealer for a knocking at the front. The guy told me he wants £450 to replace the from wishbone bush on the front offside.. Is this a little steep or is it a bigger job than I think?

 

IMHO that is crazy.
The job is simple. Sure he doesn't want to change ALL the wishbone bushes?
If that is the case then it is a price that should include parts too.

Try a respectable independent also.

 

What makes this worse is that I took the car to my dads mates garage who has been in the business for 50+ years and there is f**k all wrong with it! We had the bar in there and there is no play whatsover on the bush...

We are all at a loss to what this noise can be???

Done the front droplinks!

Checked the brakes for rattling!

The front wishbone bush`s are fine!

We dont know if it is the shocks???? They might be naff and the car is just riding on the springs?? But we wont know until we take them off???


Anyone, please help

 

Obvious but lower ball joint inner/outer track rod joints, loose rack.
All sterring joints.
Top mount swivel on front suspension.

Maybe? Try to check for play when at ride height not full droop.

 

We had it on the ramp and we were pulling on everything. For the volume and the consistantcy of the knocking something must be totally f**ked on the car. But underneeth everything looks fine! No rust, nothing!!!

They only had a quick look (as in we did not take anything off)! Its booked in for Saturday morning where they will have a more detailed inspection!

How can I check the shocks without taking the dam things off! You can feel the knocking in your feet especially the pedals!???

 

Best check of the shocks is to jack the wheel and rock the tyre, when the centre bearing went on my old Spax they made a heck of a racket and it it rocked 'lovely'!

Simon

 

I remember the garage doing that and it was as solid as a rock! No unwanted movement or noise???

 

OK not that then!

Where in Warks are you? (I'm in Cubbington, just north of L/Spa)

 

Nuneaton, by cov!

 

Mine was the inner joint on the track rod !

 

Was it a really dull, metal on metal knocking??

 

That joint would be.

 

MMMMmmmm, well I got it booked into the garage on Saturday Morning and until then I am gonna rack all your brains on this one!

How could I check this joint??? Is there anything I can look for??

The knocking is not really consistant with speed, the pitch of the noise does not increase or decrease with speed.

Neither does road surface effect the noise, it seems to do it more on an un-even surface tho. But speedbumps do not change the knocking at all and it will continue to do it going over them...

One thing I did notice is that it calms down going round corners? It does not stop but it deads the knock a bit....

But every time it makes the noise I can feel it in the pedals????



I think thats the best I can do?? Over to you guys.....???

 

The rack is pretty solidly mounted though still in rubber.
With the car cornering then the rack certainly is loaded on one side in compression, so the clearances allowing the knocking is tightened.

I think the inner rack being worn is a rare bird on a road car.

Glad I'm not chasing this one down tbh.
I would have to strip it all off and check it out that way as you have obviously tried all the normal tricks/inspections.

Will be interested to see what you do find!

 

I'd replace the balljoints first.

 

I will be interested too!

It dont feel dangerous and the car works fine! But the knocking is starting to do my head in now! I just dont want to have this garage spending hours and my money looking for something that is cheap to fix or I can do myself... I dont mind forking out for it if its worth it. But Its gonna be £25+ every hour the garage is looking for it????

Im gonna print this thread off and take it with me on Saturday to go over all the points with the garage..

 

How about the roll bar to chassis bushes. They're hidden away a bit under the engine bottom cover. These would go quiet when cornering as will be loaded one way. Try getting hold of bar away from the drop links and see if there's any vertical play.

 

I have already replaced the front droplinks as that is what the first garage said the problem was. But I did not know about these chassis links?

 

Not links as such. The roll bar is clamped to the chassis in rubber? bushes at each side. Easier to see how it works if you look at your rear roll bar.

 

Yeah, i know the ones! I will have a look!

 

These stealers are having you over comrade. I have a second hand wishbone here in VGC and complete that you can have for £50 plus postage.
If you were close by then fitting would be the same for a fellow Scooby enthusiast, done on an evening or week-end.
I am Darlington by the way.

 

I may just take you up on that offer mate? How long can you keep it for? I got it booked in on the saturday and if it is the wishbone then you may just have a deal!

 

What side you you have?? Or do you have both??

 

Hi Ross : I have both sides, VGC, from my 95 WRX. These were new about 10-12K ago and came off because I fitted alloy wishbones, Eibach shock absorbers and springs (from API) and various bushes etc.
They can stay here until next week but I would appreciate a yes or no by e-mail so I know what is happening.
Overnight courier is £12.50 for one or two. It makes no difference.

 

Thanks mate! Like I said, its off to the garage on Saturday morning so I will know by that afternoon if I need them or not! You will be the first person to know!

 

Can you get ball joints on their own or do you have to buy the wishbone??

 

You can get them on their own, and not expensive either, about £18 a side?

Bit brutal getting them out mind.

 

Thatll be the garage`s problem hehe.... Anyone got a good link to where I can get them from??

 

Well, I have some answers to the problem!!

I got the garage to take the shocks off and test them to see if they work ok!!

We found that the shocks were fine but the ends of the shocks had worn and were damaged. Also the ball joints needed replacing as well..

So we have taped the ends of the springs up for now and replaced the ball joints and all seems fine at the moment. The noise is gone!!!

All I need to do now once I have paid for this work is to go shopping for some new springs!!

Finally "BIG" thanks to Harvey for the offer of the wishbone!