I think have the dreaded STI clunk.
I have been to the dealership twice and they won’t touch it because I have Espelir GT springs and Cobb swaybars. A master mechanic at the dealership road tested the car said, he thought the strut was going by the clunk it made. (He said this is very common with the STI. I think everyone here knows that.) I have tightened everything I can think of and the noise (A clunk when I drive on uneven pavement or go up a drive way) it still there. The service department said they won’t fix it. They said they will have a service rep from Subaru out on the 10th and I can talk to him if I want to press the issue. I have already spoke to the manager so this is the next step. Has anyone had any luck talking to a Subaru rep after the service department turned them down for repairs? I have to take time off work and drive about an hour away to get there.
The car is a 2006 STI with 15k on it
The mods have only been there for 5k. Am I out of luck? Any other thoughts about what could be wrong. I thought my white line endlinks might be bad but they don’t seem to have play in the spherical joints though.
Any thoughts. Thanks

 

When does it clunk? Try tightening the nut at the top of the strut and your endlinks.

 

Aftermarket suspension and warranty application:

Suspension issues and not using OEM suspension parts = No chance

Aftermarket suspension and having engine issues = Yes, no problem.

 

I'd definitely try the top bolts (the big one in the middle of the tophats). I'm 99% sure the clunking sound was solved after 2004.

Can you describe the sound? If it clunks singley on a lot of bumps that sounds like "the STi clunk" but if on every bump it clunks multiple times its a blown strut

 

i work at a dealer ship as a service advisor. youve got suspension mods if its a suspenion claim ..
DENIED!!! i hate to say it. there whole deal will be its not a defect in craftsman ship. if its a engine or powertrain repair as long as there is not power mods you'll be ok. if you see the rep jus be very chill with him or her. dont be a jerk. there helpin you out. remember that ... if someone comes into my dealership demandin free or warranty repairs im much less likely to help em out etc.
ive got modded cars we get coming though all the time, if its a reg customer or a really nice one ill jus look the other way on the mods. there a jerk. oh man ill rip them a new one.... sounds mean but thats real talk

 

the warranty covers all factory parts. If you've modified it any way, don't expect the dealership to cover it. Springs lower the stance of the car, thereby taking the struts to a position that they aren't meant for. The 05-06 STi(I)'s suspension is very prone to clunking. I believe the only way to fix it is to dismantle the strut and relube it or something, I believe someone made a write up about it.

But to answer your question, if you have modified your suspension they won't (and shouldn't) honor your warranty.

 

this may sound stupid and a waste of your time but if your really concerned about the noise take the springs and swaybars off go back to stock if the noise is still there hit up the dealer at stock height and get it fixed.
welcome to the world of modifications.

 

yes, but be ready for them to have taken down all your info last time you were in with the mods on, and deny your warranty claim.
here here...

 

^^^^ TRY IT AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. PLAY IT COOL, they might.

 

04s had the strut issue, it was fixed with 05+

 

It was definately not fixed in 05 I think that was the worst year yet for it.

 

the strut was redesigned in 05. Mine had no issues at all, along with all the other 05s I knew.

locals with the 04s all had to take theirs in for repair.

 

My 05 and my bfs 05 both have the clunk and a friend of mine had it happen to his 06. I'm the only one with springs the other 2 were on stock suspension.

 

The dealer took photos of every mod on the car they could find. Sucks!!

 

damn, time to return it to stock and take a trip to norcal

and the 05's had the problem, I know about 4 people with 05's that have the STi clunk...