mckeand13

I don't think this narrows it down at all, but today I tried something. Car turned off, turn wheel back and forth a bit very quickly, and I get a bunch of clunking. To me, that still says it's either tie rod ends (inner our outer), or backlash in the steering rack.

I got the car at about 83K miles. I haven't seen any indications that the car was ever in an accident, and no reports stated it was. - How do I check the wheel bearing? I've checked for play while holding the hub/rotor at 12 and 6 and detected no play. - How are the rack bushings replaced? I couldn't find them as parts in the service manual? Thanks

I've checked the swaybar bushings and endlinks. All seems well there. Almost impossible to move at all by hand, and no noises as I jerked it around. I'll see if I can round up a helper and check the inner tie rods again.

No movement at all when grasping the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock. A bunch of clunking when I grab it and 3 and 9 o'clock. It's pretty hard to feel and see what is going on with the inner tie rod joint, but I can't detect any play in it. Why do you suggest not checking/adjusting the rack? It's there for that specific purpose right? Are there bushings at each end of the rack that wear?

I've posted on subaruoutback.org but received no relevant replies. Just looking for a little help here. Problem: I just replaced the struts and strut mounts on my '01 OBW 2.5L at 115K miles. There was a lot of suspension noise before hand which I attributed to the struts and mounts. Everything related to that is tight and has been reviewed. A lot of the noise is now gone, but there are still plenty of annoying noises especially at low speeds. Most of the noised come from shallow potholes and cracks in the road while under 30mph. It sounds like all of the noise is coming from the front end. Later on...... I think I may have found the source of my low speed "clunking" from the front end. I pulled the wheels off today and checked lower ball joints and then inner and outer tie rod ends. It's actually hard to tell if the the tie rod ends have any slop, but I couldn't notice any by sight or with my finger on both parts. Put the tires back on for leverage over just holding the rotor and caliper. I could hear a lot of loud knocking when I grabbed the front and back of the tires and quickly pushed in and out. That led me to the steering rack. It looks like the large geared shaft has some vertical slop as the tie rod moves it back and forth. It seems like it should have purely axial movement. I'm not sure if it's that vertical slop, or the engagement with the gear driving the shaft. Why does mine have a bunch of slop and knocking emanating from it? Check out this video I posted. You can hear it! I noticed in the factory manual, there is reference to adjusting a "preload" type of nut. It basically adjusts spring tension on another piece that is being forced into the rack shaft. I'm not sure if it is just pushing the rack against another bearing surface or what it's intent is. The manual states to tighten it to a certain torque and then back off 25deg. I can check this, but what does it really do inside the rack? If it were not adjusted properly, could it contribute to movement causing some clunking? Any help or suggestions welcome. Thanks.

I actually had the same question. Are you guys saying it's in the passenger side compartment that has the door on it? Isn't there a plasticy lining in that little compartment? Does that have to come out? Thanks.

Anti-squeal GREASE? The stuff I have used is made by CRC (I think) and it's in a spray can. You spray a red sticky stuff on the back of the pad, let it set up for a couple of minutes and then assemble. I did see that Loctite has a disk brake quiet which comes in a lipstick type thing. Maybe cleaning and trying that will be a solution? Where are you applying grease? The back of the pads? Don't you worry about the grease getting hot, melting, and getting on the rotor/pads? Or is it some very high temp grease? Thanks.

I've had my '01OB 2.5 for about 10,000 miles and it has 83K on the odometer. Ever since I got it it squeals like a bastard while braking lightly in reverse and sometimes going forward. Noise is coming from the front brakes. I haven't been able (or spent the time) to determine if it's specific to one side only. The previous owner didn't give me a receipt a brake job but it must have been recent since there is a lot of meat on the pads. The pads have the red stickum on the back and I even cleaned them and reapplied. Is there a solution? Do they all do this? My friends '98 (I think) has some seriously squeaky brakes as well. Recommendations please......

Read my post here. http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5843&perpage=20&pagenumber=3

Yep, your right. They are intercooled. I was just going by the specs on the Subaru website and they don't mention it under "engine" for the OBXT. I just looked at a picture of the engine bay and I guess the hoodscoop is a giveaway. So, now what differences are left to make up the almost 50hp difference?

I like the newer 2005 and up Outback 2.5XT's but I know I would be greedy for more hp and especially torque. Both engines are 2.5L with turbo. Do they really start with the same block/heads or what parts do they share. I noticed that the STI is intercooled. Beyond that, what are the differences. Is it possible to make an OBXT STI fast?