gDallasK

I've found lots of posts about rear strut problems but nothing on the front. My wife spotted it yesterday and now it's driving me nuts. It's most noticeable when moving slowly forward in or out of gear and you can make it happen when stationary by leaning hard on the front corner of the car.

My first thought was that the dealer who fitted my Prodrive springs a couple of weeks ago failed to do up something tightly enough so I checked the strut mounting bolts and wheel nuts - which were all done up tight. Having read about all the problems with knocking rear struts maybe I have a similar problem with my front struts.

I'm not impressed. The car is less than six months old and has only done 5000 miles. My previous 03 WRX PPP Wagon never saw the inside of a garage apart from its scheduled services.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Either way it will be visiting the dealer from a checkup asap.

sandycam

iTrader: (1)

any word on a solution?

gDallasK

No solution. But the REALLY annoying thing is that it has gone away. I was away on business for most of this week and the car was left at the airport. When I got back to drive home last night the noise has gone! AAARRGGHH!
I was due to take it in to the dealer this morning but no point now. It will be back, no doubt, just as soon as I've cancelled the appointment.

I HATE intermittent faults.

sandycam

iTrader: (1)

thanks for the update if you have anymore to add at a later date please do! Think i might have a very similair knock and it was after fitting prodrive springs as well

gDallasK

Drove about seventy miles today and as I pulled back into the drive I noticed the noise was back and, if anything, a bit louder this time. Let's hope it stays around long enough to get to the dealer when I've made another appointment.

fpan

iTrader: (11)

Let us know how you get on with this as I was thinking of having the prodrive springs fitted but not anymore unless this is sorted!
Hope all goes well.

sandycam

iTrader: (1)

i'm not sure its the springs at fault, sounds "more solid" than a spring problem and therefore think it might be the shock itself as seen on quite few std cars as well

scoobynewbie72

iTrader: (1)

Hi are your front arb to arm drop links ok ?
Ive just had a Knock again from the front and found these to be the culprit.
hth
Brett

sandycam

iTrader: (1)

hopefully its not that on a car thats had an easy life and done less than 5k in 10 months
Thought they used to use these things for rallying because they were tough lol

gDallasK

I've not checked the anti roll bar - that's a good thought. If that's the problem then that will be the only excuse I need for some Whiteline upgrading :-)

gDallasK

Result : The front strut is faulty and is being replaced under warranty. Monks Heath Motors will be carrying out the work on Thursday.

My confidence in the legendary Subaru reliability has taken a bit of a knock though ........

sandycam

iTrader: (1)

seems to be a common thing on wrxs and stis

brens.scoob

iTrader: (1)

my 04 does the same thing on the same side ns front.

gDallasK

Well, if you have any warranty left, I'd get it replaced.

TaySTi

you're going to laugh at this... I thought I had a creaking noise coming from my front ns supsension on my 05 STi so I had a good look. turns out it's not the suspension strut at all, but the alarm's heavy duty bonnet switch which is unluckily aligned to one of bonnet's single panel cut-out sections - you can replicate the noise by pressing down on the bonnet. you hear it at low speeds probably due to lower background noise and heat build-up causing slight bonnet expansion - or may be I just know jack sh*t about cars

richwatty

Just been out to check my NS front knocking noise (same description as above) on my 03 Blob STi. If I grab the spring platform and pull from side to side on the NS then I can hear a slight knocking but not from the OS. It feels like the strut has got play in it but no oil leaking.
Has any body had to pay for an out of warrantee car strut to be changed? How much is it likely to be?

Cheers, Rich