Rod702

On 4/4/2024 at 6:35 AM, MoleMan said:

Not as bad as before?

 

So you never had anyone even look at the suspension professionally after two members advised you to do so one being a professional mechanic?

And the Subaru advisor does not know anything!  These guys job is to make money off you.  They are not professional mechanics.  Some are OK and can tell you something at least.  But most are just there to take your complaint and pass it along to the mechanics and sell you those cabin air filter replacements that need to be done now for only $80 bucks lol.

I have a bad LCA on my Honda.  I know its bad because it clunks. and I have the issue once a year.  The bushings fail due to the roadways.  Its not the endlink because those are brand new.  However I am not going to just go to my mechanic and say I already looked and the LCA is fine.  I am just going to say the car has a clunk please fix.

I wish you the best.  But the issue has nothing to do with the EPS TSB.  It is a suspension issue.  the EPS issue is more of a rattle over low speed surfaces.  I know its there.  I have have not had the TSB done and I live with it because it does not effect the performance of the EPS system.

If the clunking comes back please bring it to a professional and just say your car has a clunking noise.  Thats it.  No more or no less.

 

 

 

Man I don’t what to tell you. I posted a video of me Turing the wheel inside the car with clunk, a video with me inside engine manipulating the steering rack with clunk noise. I examine all the bushing with best of knowledge, they all look like in good shape for 2016 car.

clunking noise in steering is still there but not as bad as before, but the noise over slight bumps is completely gone. Service advisory told me they all clunk on steering, what is concerning was the noise over slight bumps.

mechanic didn’t even drive car he sat in car and manipulated steering knew exactly it was the steering rack. 

So I have been having this weird chirping noise, almost sounds like a cricket. I know it’s the blower because when I shut off a/c or fan it stops. It only does it at Low speed, at higher speed the chirping is absent. 
 

You think blower motor is going out?

So got the part installed. The clunking noise from left to right is not as bad as before. But a noise on little bumps is gone.  The Subaru advisor said that was issue really to be worried about. But I appreciate every one’s help! 
 

anyone needs this 5 point Torx bit I’d be willing to lend it out to pay it forward if anyone needs it !

https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/front-end-rattle-clunk.377209/post-6096141
 

this guys video of the clunking left to right on steering wheel. Don’t know if clunking is the correct terminology for noise but it sounds exactly what he is experiencing. Also the vibrations and noise when going over small bumps. 
 

I took wheels off and looked at all bushings and had Subaru look at arms. They said it looked fine.

On 3/5/2024 at 8:37 PM, XT-sub said:

You are welcome. I didn’t use a torque wrench on the screw, I just hand tightened it firmly but not too tight.

Depending on what screw is fitted to the steering rack on your Legacy, you may not need to source the TS40 5-point Torx security screw bit. You may get away with a T40 5-point Torx screw bit. The new screw is a T40 5-point Torx screw & the original one on my Outback was the same.

The T40 5-point Torx screw bit would have done the job but the TS40 5-point Torx security screw bit in a kit was readily available where I shop (it fits both TS40 & T40 versions of the screw).

I hope it fixes the noise.

So I got part from dealership and tried taking off screw with reg torx 40 and it wouldn’t work. So the part number BTP40P bit is the same as a torx 40 security bit with hole in middle ?

my buddy has a kit with Torx security bits. Trying to save some money and not order this $20 bit from Matco that I will never use again. 
 

also has anyone tried to adjust lash themselves ? If so, I’m assuming u need special tools and can share their experience?

Pmed u

55 minutes ago, XT-sub said:

Yes, steering column recall.

 

If you want to check the EPS tension spring yourself, in addition to the link to the TSB posted by ammcinnis, below is a link to post #269 by OHSCrifle in the topic I previously linked to. It has a link to Tim Wong’s YouTube video:

 

https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/front-end-rattle-clunk.377209/page-7?post_id=6096141&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-6096141

 

Note: 40 inch/lbs isn’t much torque, so I wouldn't use a power tool to refit the screw.

 

A brief list of how easy it is to do is posted by CdnScooby in post #245 here:

 

https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/front-end-rattle-clunk.377209/page-6?post_id=6030997&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-6030997

thanks bud. I can tell u enough how grateful I am u share that info with me. I’m going to do the eps tension spring myself and pray to God that solves my problem. 
 

in video, those noises on small bumps and also the side side on steering wheel are exact symptoms I’m experiencing on my legacy. 
 

thabks again, u might of just saved me thousands of dollars.

So is that price correct to install new spring and adjust the backlash $1300 ? 

1 hour ago, DougKelly20 said:

Assuming you mean preload/backlash (valve lash has to do with the cylinder heads) it should be part of the job ... They need to do it properly. What makes the sound was the spring, which is the defective part in need of replacing, but part of doing that is making sure that when it's all back together the preload is set correctly so the steering feel is proper.  I suggest a new dealer.  Are you under warranty?

Unfortunately not. It’s 2016. I am the 3rd owner.

is that TSB your referring too a no cost replacement from dealer? 

this was done with recall. Looks like it was steering colum. 

the dealer did not want to cover the valve lash adjustment he wanted to charge me $1300 and said the noise would return after awhile. He never asked me about the spring though?

1 hour ago, ammcinnis said:

I think that's not a good assumption. Similar? Maybe. "The same"? Probably not. (I'm not about to go out chasing part numbers for you to compare.)

You can replace the "tension spring" that's at the heart of the problem yourself for less than $100 ... including the cost of the special tool required. Or you could pay a good independent shop (or even the dealer) for an hour of labor to replace it for you. That's what I would do ... but it's your car, your choice.

can u share the procedure if u have done it before?

18 hours ago, ammcinnis said:

If you read the TSB, this specific problem is limited to Legacy, Outback, and WRX.  I agree that the rattle can be annoying when driving over irregular road surfaces.

A reminder: Subaru doesn't design or manufacture the Outback's steering rack. They source it from KYB.

im asssuming it’s the same electronic steering rack as the Forster. 
 

update: picked up car and service advisor was really cool about not charging me $150 for diagnoses fee. He said as soon as tech jumped in car and wiggled steering wheel around he knew exactly the problem. 
 

I sent him the tsb and he said he can adjust the lash for $1300, but the problem always come back within a few years. Or I can totally replace the steering rack for $3500 parts labor. 
 

he then told me that this issue is common with a lot of legacy. And assured me that it wasn’t a safety issue, but should be replace in near future. 
 

I could replace the rack myself, looked online about $1100 new for rack and then I have to take it back to Subaru to program it $200 and realignment $80-$100.

i got this car for $7500, 142000 miles. Blue book value was 11k, so I thought I really got a good deal. But in retrospect seller knew what was going on and dumped the car.

what do u guys think? Should show it a little TLC and cash or just dump the car and sell it.

this is my son’s first car, and I want him to be safe.

6 minutes ago, ammcinnis said:

See: Subaru TSB 04-17-17R 08/20/19

It is important to note that Subaru states "the condition is NOT detrimental to the operation of the [Electric Power Steering] system" ... i.e. it is safe to drive.

FWIW, my 2016 Outback has developed the steering rattle, while my 2015 Legacy has not. YMMV.

It’s annoying sound. My wife 2018 forester is also electric rack with eyesite and it doesn’t make that noise.

its a Subaru of Las Vegas right now. $150 to diagnose it, can be applied to repairs. We shall see the outcome.

Thanks for all your input gentlemen!

1 hour ago, DougKelly20 said:

FWIW I had the steering rack spring replaced with the TSB for the issue, but my sounds were manifesting more as a rattle over washboard surfaces at low speeds. I was not getting any clunking when turning the wheel. 

Sound manifest at lower speeds to over mild bumps. 

Definitely not coming from tie rods or any bushing when I lifted the car. Sounds like it’s coming from the black circle in steering rack itself. 

Hello, my legacy doods. I purchased a 2016 legacy for son recently. it was a steal purchase, but im having some problems with the clunking sound in steering. When i turn steering wheel in car left to right i can hear clunking, also when car goes over bumps i can also hear the clunking as well. Took wheel off and lifted front end and had someone turn steering wheel inside cabin from left to right while i was underneath car, and i for sure i can hear it coming from the steering rack underneath car. I looked at any recalls online, and saw it was worked on and completed on steering rack. 

wonder if anybody else has experienced this ? and if so what did you do about it? 

thanks in advance.