mechanic58

Great idea. I studied mine some more last night after I got home from work. The noise is definitely originating in the vicinity of the engine cradle crossmember and seems to be stimulated by movement of the chassis. I have examined my lower control arm bushings very closely, however I have not removed the lower control arms for the purpose of this inspection. There are no obvious problems. During the course of my inspections I did find a loose ball joint that I was SURE would fix the problem...there was no change after I replaced it. Edit: I replaced this ball joint a couple weeks ago. This has been an ongoing problem with this car ever since I bought it.

I have an '09 2.5i automatic with the same exact issue. It is driving me bonkers. I have a lift in my garage and I have been over this car with a fine-toothed comb and I can NOT find the source of this noise. To make it even more annoying, about half the time when it occurs it sounds like it's coming from different directions. I'm baffled. It almost sounds like a loaded structural member that has developed a crack and is deflecting under a load - making the sound. Sometimes I can actually 'feel' it in the floorpan of the car with my feet.

Hmmm, I’ll have to check mine. I only checked them with weight off the wheels.

I have an '09 Legacy with 128k on it with similar issues. I have had it up on my lift and thoroughly inspected it and I cannot find it. It's about to drive me crazy. I have just replaced both front wheel bearings and one lower ball joint. Everything else is tight as a drum. The noise isn't really a clunk - its more like a creaking sound. What it sounds like to me is like a metal structural member that is cracked and is popping whenever it experiences a torsional load. I have checked every single fastener on the subframe, all the bushings - everything. Can't find it.

I have an '09 Legacy with the same problem. I'm thinking about just covering it with sand. :|