Noises from everywhere in the car...

[Cooper197]

Alright, I'm beginning to freak out. I know my struts are going out which is probably why it makes an awful sound whenever I drive over a bump, but there's a few other noises bothering me too. Sometimes when I turn the wheel at a complete stop it makes this god awful noise that sounds like gears skipping...I hope it isn't that...And it seems that constantly while driving there is this whirring sound coming from the left rear of the car. I'm kind of freaking out and with knowing that there is some other work that needs to be done to my car am considering a new car at this point, but before I just decide that this is all a really big deal and make a mistake of buying a new car when this is really fine, does anybody have any ideas on what is causing these noises? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[d1giPhux]

The sound that you are hearing like gears skipping.. is this ONLY when the car is stopped and turning the wheel? Or when you start to take off from a stop and are turning left or right? If so.. sounds like your axle. I've had to replace both my front ones before for the same reason. A bad axle will feel like 'gears skipping' too. Not only can you hear it, but you may also be able to feel it depending on how beat yours are. If it only happens when you turn right, chances are its the left axle, and if it only happens when you turn left, chances are its the right axle.

The grinding sound you are hearing coming from the rear of your car is most likely a wheel bearing. I've had to replace countless numbers of these on my car. They seem to wear out fast on subarus. Or at least on mine.

You should have fixed your suspension a while back. Its an easy job to do yourself, although you will need a friend helping to make it easier. If you keep running your car on busted struts/springs your going to cause a LOT more damage to your vehicle than you expect. You could snap your springs, bust through the strut area in your vehicle, or do a lot more damage that you DO NOT want to happen. Trust me.

Come back with some more info and we can help you further diagnose whats happening.

[Huffer]

The grinding sound from the rear could easily be a brake pad dragging. When was the last time the brakes were properly serviced?

The clicking is likely to be a CV axle, or if you are getting a skipping of the wheels then that will be torque bind in the transmission's clutch packs.

[d1giPhux]

Yeah, depending on how the 'clicking' feels.. definitely could be a CV as well. Need to describe a bit better when you hear it.

Its possible the brakes are dragging, but you may notice it. Do your wheels seem to get really hot after a drive? That would indicate the brakes dragging. This has also happened to my subaru before.

If the sound you are hearing makes a metallic grinding noise, or squealing type sounds.. chances are its a wheel bearing. Check out some youtube videos on how to diagnose bad wheel bearings, you may find something that will be useful to you!

Good luck!

[Cooper197]

Quick update here:
1. New Struts are here, putting them on my car tomorrow.
2. The sound when turning seems to be mainly when the car is totally stopped or is just starting to move from a stop, doesn't matter which direction I turn but it seems to happen off and on. I am only noticing it on snow, and now thinking about this with a more level head I'm wondering if the snow isn't part of it?
3. The wheel bearing seems very likely in the back. A local auto shop screwed up hardcore on putting in some new wheel studs and broke the ABS sensor, so the brakes have been looked at many times recently, although they will need to be replaced sometime in the near future, there is nothing dragging.