I just recently noticed a strange noise coming from the front left or rear left position of the car that sounds a lot like a spring creaking back and forth. It is very subtle and occurs under normal braking. Any ideas?

the car is on stock suspension with a front and rear sway bar and is auto x'd once a month.

 

Rotors are warped. If not check that everything is tight. Maybe be the sways are loose.

 

what should I do about the rotors? anyway to make sure it is actually the rotors without purchasing new ones to see?

 

When you brake a little aggressively, does the steering wheel vibrate? Could be your shocks are gone.

 

no vibration from the steering...thinks its the shocks??

Is there anyway to have it checked out? Like sending it into one of the vendor's shops?

 

I really doubt it's warped rotors. If it was you would feel the brake pedal pulsing while braking, and the steering wheel may vibrate a bit. However, if your struts are toast and need to be replaced (most likely if they are the original struts) then they will make a "clunking" type sound when they compress (like when going in a driveway a little fast). This sound could also be described as a "spring popping" type sound as well.


Looks like it's time for some KYB AGX's imo.

 

^^ Yea that is what I thought it was, but this clunking sound your describing, would that be similar to the clunking noise some coilovers make? It could be what you are describing but what you are describing doesnt really fit the noise's personality lol.

 

You said it sounds "Like a spring creaking back and forth." That is how it sounds at first, as it gets worse, it will start to sound like the spring is binding and popping, making a "clunk" sound.

2002 WRX with How many miles are on the current struts?

The car is autox'd once per month

All clues point to struts imo. If the car is lowered on the stock struts then that will wear them out faster than normal since the factory struts weren't designed to be on a lowered car. I had pretty much the same setup on my car for awhile, everything stock, except I had lowering springs, and my struts lasted about 20-30k miles before they started making noises and I had to replace them. (both of my rear struts were the first to make noise)

I would at least have the struts checked out to eliminate that possibility, but from the sounds of it, I think that is your problem.

 

i have brand stock suspension shipped straight from Subaru.got it installed one month ago. and i have creaking now...

as in new suspension, i mean new: sway bars, spring, shocks, struts.. etc.

i dont get it.

 

oh, i have clunking from the back too.

creakin on front left.

could this happen from brand new set of suspension?

 

the rotors are too thin the piston is having to come out too far