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Clunkity clunk clunk. Top hats?


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I also have a clunk clunk noise with the Konis and RCE Black Springs setup. I just replaced the sway bar end links thinking that might fix it but nope.

 

I noticed it is more noticeable if I drive the car in the morning or after it has been sitting for a while. After driving the noise is still there but less noticeable.

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  • 2 months later...
Ugh. The car runs nice but the clunking is so annoying!

 

I just checked with the local dealer. The front Bilstein inverted struts cost $720...per piece!

 

I'm wondering if I should just get a complete KYB Lowfer strut/spring set, but I'm not keen on lowering the car because of the roads here though.

 

Hey bro! I see that you're from the Philippines as well :) As for the Bilsteins, we can get them for P19500(around $365) each for fronts from the Bilstein distributor here. They're Bilstein B6, same as OEM.

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I was thinking the other day, someone should put a GoPro down there and watch the suspension as it moves and maybe pinpoint where the clunk is. I've just learned to get used to it but gosh darn it it wants to be heard sometimes :lol:

 

Yup! I'd pay for that if it would work. Wont work in my case though, shock absorber stiction doesnt show up on video I believe.

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  • 3 weeks later...
I have the issue where mine rattles by only if I'm at highway speeds (60-80) AND on long right hand curves or lane changes to the right on highways. Checked for Bent rims, by lifting on stands and c recording every wheel independently, had axles, hub and suspension "checked" by Sears, i checked brakes and found seized guide pin, turned out to not be the problem. Rotated wheels, balanced, alignment. Nothing. Thoughts?
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  • 7 months later...

It's been a while and I figured I'd update this.

 

I put on KW coilovers and voila! No more clunks!

 

I checked the strut removed from the clunky side and the strut shaft indeed has measurable side to side play. The OEM Bilstein sport struts are inverted style just like the STI's, and they clunk when the strut body bushing wears, just like the STI's.

 

Strut is otherwise fine as is the other dampers so I will have this overhauled by a local coilover repair guy. Nice to have a spare suspension set just in case.

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  • 5 months later...
view?contentsToken=1577824921498Cjkioj1&currentIndex=1

 

https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/contents/view?contentsToken=1577824921498Cjkioj1&currentIndex=1

Took my front shocks apart and yup... the white plastic bushing that holds the inverted shock is worn out. Thinking of how to replace this little part coz the shock itself is still good.

 

Coilover Specialist in Cavite did mine. They used to have a Facebook page but it seems to have been taken down. Will PM you his number.

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While looking for TSBs related to airbags today, I noticed the attached one for "Click, Pop or Creek sound from left or right outer cowl corner / base of A pillar area" (12-169-14). Seems to apply to 2010-2014 MY Legacy and Outback.

 

Could this be a part of the problem on some cars?

 

Thank you so much for that info. I didn't know there was a service bulletin for this. I have the symptoms of this issue coming from the right A pillar. But sadly the hunt for the weird suspension clunk noises is still on going for me.

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Coilover Specialist in Cavite did mine. They used to have a Facebook page but it seems to have been taken down. Will PM you his number.

 

Hey thanks Scubaboo! Got your message, I did look for their page which I recall saving but you're right, its down. Anyway, I messaged Donald.

 

So was he able to fix your Bilstein?

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Hey thanks Scubaboo! Got your message, I did look for their page which I recall saving but you're right, its down. Anyway, I messaged Donald.

 

So was he able to fix your Bilstein?

 

No prob!

 

Yup he fixed it, made custom upper strut body bushings and reassembled. I never got to test though as I am still on the KW's.

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  • 6 months later...

So I got some recent light clunking and general suspension NVH for a while now and inspected everything and couldnt really find any concrete problems.

 

I decided to try having someone bounce the car with my hand on the top hats. There was a tiny bit of movement/play you could feel through the rubber. Very subtle, but definitely there.

 

I decided to get them replaced and got OEM top hats at the local dealer.

 

The rubber portion is made by Bridgestone and the bearing is a Koyo marked made in Japan.

 

When the shop pulled the front struts I tried wiggling the hats while they were still attached and there was quite a bit of play. Interestingly when the new top hats were installed on the struts I tried to wiggle them and they had play too, but not as much as the old ones. I was apprehensive at that point that I had all the work done for nothing.

 

Thankfully, it wasnt the case and the clunking was gone and NVH improved considerably!

 

Happy to come across a test to check these as I was wondering how to check them without pulling them from the car.

 

So clunkity clunk clunking? Bounce the car while feeling the top hats and it should give you an idea if the problem is there or elsewhere.

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