PHIL,
have they shed any light as to whether your strut was from a new batch which they knew to be without fault, or did you just get lucky?

JGD

And I'm curious why my STi (and presumably others) doesn't display the problem. I think Litchfields ordered mine in Feb and I took delivery in June. If they have only just worked out how to fix yours, why does mine not need fixing also?

Did they tell you what the problem was?

Matt :)

Well, I have had the shock replaced on my STI7 and its made no difference what so ever. I have to wait for another batch to come in and get it replaced again. Hopefully that will sort it!? :)

My report sheds as much light as I myself was able to gain, and I've been careful to caveat as to where my uncertainties lie.

"Paul Todd" is a name unknown to me....I'd communicated with Phil Evans, Tech Director at S-UK, as well as John Sherwood (Customer Relations who is self-confessedly "not a techie"). I'd laid it on the line with the TD that I wanted it fixed this time. Period. However, I think that they have tried a 'solution' rather than merely provide a replacement component shown to be close to design spec. That's why I advocate a couple of days grace to let them digest the news that mine appears to have worked and, as a consequence, decide how they're going to source whatever it is that they have to source.

It's been a puzzle to me all along - 'why some and not others?' and 'why Nearside only' (especially if shock absorbers aren't right- and left-handed - is that right you experts??), and 'why only at low speed'. Given that the failing shock absorbers appear to have had lateral play, I had suspected a duff batch (and, if shock absorbers are "handed", that would add weight). But I'm not a Techie, (just owner of a couple of Science Degrees, which helps me frame the questions), and I don't have the whole picture.

I'll be interested to hear how the rest of you get on....

Cheers,

phil

I was told Paul Todd is someone technical from Subaru UK and he roadtested my car and confirmed the problem. That's all I know I'm afraid. At this point I'm beyond caring, very disillusioned with subaru ownership, some feat for subaru considering I consider myself an enthusiast and have wanted one since watching my mcrae's antics way back when. :(

OK

Just back from dealers. The violent rattling noise and suspected transmission whine type noise are both gone.

They found the problem by driving the car whilst it was up on the ramps. It was something to do with the rear diff moving slightly under load. The whine was also related to this.

They have put back in the new shock as this was taken out again because of the two new noises.

OK, the knocking is still there, but nothing like it used to be. I would say 90% cured.
This I will probably be prepared to live with, as i've had enough of taking the car back to the dealers for work. And i'm sure they are also sick of looking at it.
But I cannot sing their praises enough, them amount of time & effort they have put in is unreal. They always listened to what I had to say, every time I was given priority over other jobs they were working on.

Even this morning, they had another car about to go on the ramps for a service, and as soon as they saw me driving in, the guys in the workshop immediately took the other car out and just waved me in.

By the way, I have an email address of certain chaps in Subaru UK if anyone is interested.

Cheers


Shaun

Three days after getting mine back, my final report is absolutely identical to Shaun's!! It's 90% cured, and I haven't the heart to go back to the dealer again! I'm going to make my final report to S-UK tomorrow along these lines - perhaps you'd do the same, Shaun??

Regards to all

Phil

Anybody going to the AGM on Sunday that can show me what this noise sounds like?

Ta,

Matt :)

Shan't be there Matt, but..... It sounds exactly like a loose exhaust knocking on the undersurface of the car. It only happens at slow speed, more often when the strut is under lateral pressure that when travelling in a straight line. At higher speed, when the wheel is rolling and the shock absorber is working smoothly, it's very rare indeed. Its ONLY ever NSR - I haven't heard of a single OSR. So, for example, you might drop the half-inch off a Garage Forecourt onto the road as you pull away and get a single thump, or maybe a double-thump.

Phil

Erm ok here is my story as requested by Phil...

I had the knocking noise from the nearside rear. My dealer informs me that there is a fix and it is in stock.

I go in and they fit a PPP at the same time :D :D and now I have no knocking. Having read all of this thread I am going to listen hard on my way to work tomorrow but I haven't heard a knocking/clanking noise today when I was out.

Whereas before I would hear it regularly.


Willie

Willie,
Did they tell you what precisely was the fix - was it the shock absorber strut? From what you say they seem tohave been fairly confident about being able to fix it.Mine is driving me round the twist , but I dont want to go back to the dealer until I know there is a definite fix out there

Ger

erm I didn't ask what they did... I will now though three of us have had it done by the same dealer and have all been very happy with the outcome.

I am really sorry to be so vague but I thought it was a fairly standard fix...

WillieF,


Which dealer is this? Maybe useful for some of us Noisy shock cars to have our dealers contact your's for ideas?

It's the most excellent S&S Services in Ayr. Speak to John Spicer on 01292 880080 and tell him we sent you :D

I've had mine fixed for about 3 months now, without any recurrence.

All they did was replace the rear strut assembly and strut top mount. The top mount assembly looked fine to me when it came off, but apprently there was a very small amount of play in the strut when it was mounted to the car with the wheels off. Couldn't move it by hand once it was off the car.

It's done the trick for all 3 of our cars.

John

MIne does it.
Not bad tho.
When it has its service I`ll get my dealer to call the above number and hopefully get it fixed.
Its not bad tho.

I've got the exact same noise coming from my P1 - It's going to scooby dealer tomorrow so they can take a look at it. They're also getting me another rear spoiler at the same time cos the paint on my one's ****e :(

Oh dear Jaycole.
I`m afraid you have a P1 and in my opinion the paint all over is ****e

Well the noise has got worse since i had the shock replaced. :( Theres a constant knocking and rumbling, I just hope they get the new shocks in from Japan soon!

Mine just knocks. Can live with it at the moment but will want it sorting

Well some news, just had a call from my dealer, they have a "suspension link" for me from Subaru UK specifically for my car. So it's going in tommorrow and we shall see if that fixes it when I pick it up tommorrow night.

Not sure if suspension link is a proper part name, tbh dunno what parts there are to rear suspension on an STi7, but I'll see if I can get any more details about what they're doing when I go in.

Well it was actually a new strut and tbh, I think they've fixed it. :D Only driven it the 25 miles home, but making nothing like the noise prior to fix.

Andrew,

That's good to hear. Was it the "new style" fixed strut?

Matt :)

"nothing like the noise...."? - In other words, still some noise??? My fix was only "90%", as was Shaun's....

Cheers

Phil
edited for missing control-character

[Edited by Phil Harrison - 11/14/2002 5:17:00 PM]

Well it's not made the noise I was complaining about at all, it made a loud thunk and/or 'wobble' noise like something was seriously wrong, and I could make it make horrible noises on demand in numerous places on my way home normally regular as clockwork and in none of these it made it.

Though most of it was low speed, one torn up section of B road on a left hander could make it rattle at speed and I shot through there 4th gear 90 last night without incident. Probably happened there due to speed and the NSR being un-weighted?

I'll have to drive it more before I'm totally convinced, but the car just felt better driving it last night and inspired more confidence.

That said, something under my dash still rattles though :rolleyes:

Matt: I assume it was a new fixed strut, since my dealer had no ETA for a fix, then just phoned me tuesday and said Subaru UK had sent them a new strut specifically for my car.

[Edited by Andrewza - 11/14/2002 12:41:16 PM]

Noise under the dash - hmmmm sounds familiar.

Does your noise sound like a buzzing, cause thats what mine is like, starts around 4K, and lasts about 500/600 rpm, but only under hard acceleration.

I just ignore it most times, but its very annoying and noticable when there are 3 or 4 people in the car and you accelerate pretty hard overtaking something.

Shaun

Nope, mine sounds like a loose wire rattling I'm afraid, dealer has supposedly had dash apart and tightened stuff, but to no avail. :(

A number of Old-style Imprezas had something like that, Shaun, which was traced to some piping vibrating against the bulkhead IIRR. Happened to my MY'99, and was easily fixed.... but, obviously, don't know if it's the same noise/problem on the STi!

Cheers,

Phil

Hi Phil

Yeah, the dealer tried the bulkhead thing, but looks like its not a problem on the STI. They also took the intercooler off because they had cars where a bolt/nut was not quite tight under the intercooler and this made the rattling noise too.

My noise could also be a loose wire or something like that, because when I say buzzing, its definately a vibration noise of some sort. My gut feeling is that its because of the keypad fitting, I just don't know how much of the dash or whatever has to come out for the security guys to fit the security keypad & led etc.

Too many noises for my liking - I just want to enjoy the thing without any abnormal sounds!

Its going in for a service next week, so I'll ask then to have a look around the security installation and see if they can find anything.


Shaun

If rattle is under left hand side of dash... my brothers car did this. very easy fix, remove glove box (just about 6 screws) and you will see a large metal tube (bulkhead). on the left hand side there is a component that sits just under the tube on a bracket. You will see that there is foam posiitoed on the tube to stop vibrations, but this may be wrongly placed. Simpily bend the bracket back about an inch. end of prob. hope this helps

Anyone seem to be getting any further on this. I fear now that the new model is coming, with i note - revised suspension, that V7 owners will be 'forgotten' about. That said my car will be in for another effort in a few weeks, though I must admit, I am almost at the point of living with the noise... much as i hate it. I think i can safely say that the customer service of Subaru UK have been extremely disappointing to me.