Black08XT Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 About 2 weeks ago, I picked up my 08 XT manual. I love the car, it drives great, lots of power and good gas mileage. The only thing that worries me is that when I am turning sharply at low speeds (left or right) and I drive over a bump, the front rattles a lot. It sounds ridiculous. Anyone have any thoughts on this? In the winter I drive up north often on dirt/frozen roads and I want to make sure that I don't have any problems. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawdaddy79 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Pop the hood and make sure the plastic cover (says "Subaru Boxer" or something like that) on the engine has all four pop-rivets in it. If one or two is lose or missing, that could very well be your problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.T.Subie Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I get the same when I turn left and go over something raised like concrete. Denial is your best friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azca Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 look at your LCA bushings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black08XT Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 I checked the engine cover and that is fine. It's something that you can actually feel, so it seems to be an issue that is tied into the front suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_KT Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 ^^^^^ Is it a rattle or more of a "clunk"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaGe Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 might want to check the CV joints. Just got done replacing mine. OTM. Sorry I didn't mean to start a war which mainly forum people is all about . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black08XT Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 It is more like a "clunk." It's repetitive and last a few seconds. Again, it's loud. The first time I heard/felt it I thought my front wheels were going to fall off. Would a brand new car have CV joint problems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaGe Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 dont know until you look. Might be something as small as loose nuts on your FSB. OTM. Sorry I didn't mean to start a war which mainly forum people is all about . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azca Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 take it to the dealer and see what they say. If you can drive with them and reproduce the problem, they might actually want to fix it. If you just leave your car, they will tell you 'it's normal' or some bs like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaGe Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 +1 OTM. Sorry I didn't mean to start a war which mainly forum people is all about . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawGT Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 I have a similar problem in my LGT. I think many subarus just have a clunking noise when turning. Other option is if you had a STI STS and the dealer improperly re-torqued the H-bracket (and I have no clue whether the Forester even has an H bracket). I say bug your dealer to get it fixed, especially since is a new car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TT- Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 i have the same thing. im going to get under it to make sure everything is secure. if everything is, it can clunk all it wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadsclr Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I have an '08 2.5i SE and I also noticed the same thing Black 08XT and others are describing. It only happens when turning over a bump like when I turn into a driveway with a raised curb at the bottom. For once I can rest easy knowing there are others experiencing the same issue. Other than that specific circumstance it feels tight and normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black08XT Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 I have an appointment at the dealer, so I will let everyone know what they say. I also agree, the car handles great otherwise, but this noise is something I have to check out. Some say that it's the bushings, are bushings in Subaru's notorious for being poor quality? BTW, this forum is addictive and all I want to do is start making my car unique. I thought that by buying this car, I would avoid the temptation, but I was wrong... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vkchu Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I have an appointment at the dealer, so I will let everyone know what they say. I also agree, the car handles great otherwise, but this noise is something I have to check out. Some say that it's the bushings, are bushings in Subaru's notorious for being poor quality? BTW, this forum is addictive and all I want to do is start making my car unique. I thought that by buying this car, I would avoid the temptation, but I was wrong... my clunking noise on slow speed turns, over small speed bumps and the like, as well as slow accel from stop turned out to be a strut, which was not my first guess as there is only 9k on the clock. good thing its still covered under mfr warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black08XT Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 So...I brought the car to the dealer this morning. We took it for a ride, I was able to replicate the noise. The tech said it was normal, but it did sound a little louder than it was supposed to. He checked it out, found nothing wrong. He also stated that the ball joints are new and need time to break in. I have never heard of that before. I guess I just have to deal with it, but it's nice to know my wheels aren't going to fall off. On a happier note, I ordered an intake (yes, mostly just for the fun and not performance since I know it will be minimal) and I have set up an appointment for tint. 20% in the back, 35% in the front. I can wait to have that done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azca Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 told you the dealer wouldn't do anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t0ad Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 My car has this exact problem .. the front end sounds like a sewing machine when I'm slowly turning over uneven surfaces like gravel. Apparently it's a rather common problem having to do with Subaru's steering racks, and there doesn't seem to be a definite fix for it. The rattle got even louder after I put on the SuperPro LCA bushings. I've learned to live with it :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azca Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 have you tried replacing steering rack bushings with whiteline kit? My car has this exact problem .. the front end sounds like a sewing machine when I'm slowly turning over uneven surfaces like gravel. Apparently it's a rather common problem having to do with Subaru's steering racks, and there doesn't seem to be a definite fix for it. The rattle got even louder after I put on the SuperPro LCA bushings. I've learned to live with it :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t0ad Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 have you tried replacing steering rack bushings with whiteline kit? Nope .. I had no idea there was such a thing, actually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToRealEyes Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Don't know if this thread is still being looked at, but I recently saw a TSB that seems to parallel the symptoms we're all seeing, not just in the H6 3.0L that they're stating. I've had this too...even after the "break in period" Check it out -Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 I have exactly the same problem you described. I also took a technician for a drive and reproduced the "clunk/rattle". He said it was normal. It sure does sound like some major part of the suspension is about to fall off though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 My car has this exact problem .. the front end sounds like a sewing machine when I'm slowly turning over uneven surfaces like gravel. Apparently it's a rather common problem having to do with Subaru's steering racks, and there doesn't seem to be a definite fix for it. The rattle got even louder after I put on the SuperPro LCA bushings. I've learned to live with it :/ +1 I never really heard this rattle until I put the LCA bushings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black08XT Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 Don't know if this thread is still being looked at, but I recently saw a TSB that seems to parallel the symptoms we're all seeing, not just in the H6 3.0L that they're stating. I've had this too...even after the "break in period" Check it out -Jonathan After reading that, I think it's referring to a different issue. The issue I was describing occurs when you hit a bump/crease/pothole with the wheel turned. It's surely a rattle/clunk/WTF noise. To be honest, I am pretty surprised that many have this same problem and Subaru never thought about fixing it. Who wants to drive around a $30k car that sounds like a piece of crap? Has anyone that has completely switched out their suspension not have this problem anymore? Just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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