Popping noise when parking

[FaderUS]

I have a 2011 Legacy 2.5 with 130k. I recently had the entire front suspension replaced..Struts (kyb excel-g), 2013 springs, LCA, tophats, right tie rods, and a swaybay upgraded to the larger 2013 outback unit with new swaybar links and bushings. This all oem subaru stuff, except for the struts and swaybar itself (junkyard pull from a car hit in the rear) and the work was done by a Nissan certified mechanic and it was aligned after, with nothing looking off on the alignment report.

 

When I got the car back it was fine for a bit (<100 miles) then started to pop when I turned sharply at low speed, like when parking. I have only noticed it when turning left, and it feels fine while driving and at speed.

 

He diagnosed it to a failed tophat bearing and Subaru warrantied it. I just got it back, and after <20 miles it seems to be returning, though not as loudly as before, so far...any ideas?

[IJpie]

Perhaps it is coming from your center differential.

[FaderUS]

It definitely feels like something in the suspension binding/releasing, and didn't exist before the work was done...what issue with the center diff would cause this sort of an issue?

[Infosecdad]

If you drive slow figure 8s and it is popping, a lot of times that is traced back to the CV axles/half shafts.

[FaderUS]

would axles/half shafts get better for some period of time after everything was torqued then gradually come back?

[FaderUS]

I have honestly never had a half shaft fail on a Subaru (but I have snapped them on the turbo cars). I may be reading too much into it, but the sound definitely has a sort of sproingy quality like something binding/releasing vs the cv joint click i've heard in other cars.

[FaderUS]

One thing that I keep coming back to is the used sway bar swap...could anything with the sway and/or endlinks create a popping noise in these conditions?