Noise in front (BD) help? [Archive] - Subaru Legacy International

rudgers73

09-15-2009, 06:57 PM

Since about a month after I put on my kartboy front drop links (aluminum with urethane bushings) I have noticed a strange "pop" under certain driving circumstances. For example: Sometimes when I go around a corner aggressively there will be a sort of clunk when the car starts to roll back onto the side that lifted. Also, when I am autocrossing on a go kart track that I frequent I will have that little clunk noise corner to corner, but much more when I finish the lap and exit the track. There is a 1.5" (or so) drop from concrete to stone driveway and when I turn the wheel to go park my car I will go down that little bump and there is a very firm, almost alarming "pop" that I can feel right in the steering wheel. It will just happen once at the end of every lap tho. Everything up front is stock minus the end links. They are tight and show no signs of rubbing or slop. I can also make it do it turning into a driveway with decent slope to it. It only seems to happen when the wheels are turned and there is an uneven elevation change between the two front wheels.

My dad seems to think that it is the bushings that hold the front sway to the chassis. He thinks maybe they are worn a little out of round and the clunking is the play, and it is exacerbated by the newly stiff drop links. Any other thoughts or same experiences with this issue? Also, I was thinking about replacing those bushings if I find that they are beat up. Are there aftermarket urethane bushings for that spot on my car? And Am I better off waiting until I possibly get a beefier sway up front and do them all?

Ideas? Suggestions? Thanks

Jason

morrocco88

09-15-2009, 07:40 PM

I had the same thing on my 97' BD. It turned out to be the sway bar mount bushings that mount the sway bar to the frame. Mine looked good, but there was a tiny bit of play and it would pop when going over uneven surfaces which works the sway bar.

One easy way to test before buying bushings is to disconnect the end links which will make the sway bar not work at all. Drive it or da what makes it make the noise, and if it doesn't, you know it's those bushings. It worked on mine. Also check your steering rack bushings too.

Hope that helps.