98ImprezaWA Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Not really sure of the best way to describe this sound... not really a clunk, not really a clank... sounds to me like its metal on metal. Not just one of those trademark Subaru rattles that we all love so much. Its a '98 EJ22 Sounds like its coming from the drivers side front. If the road is uneven or kinda bumpy it makes this sound. Doesn't change with the clutch or RPMs. Sounds like something might just be a little loose in the suspension? I really don't know. Its been going on for a while and hasn't gotten any worse (that I've noticed... maybe I'm just getting used to it?!) I changed my wheels a while ago I decided to see if there was anything obviously out of place while I had the wheel off, and the only thing that I could find was it seemed to me that I could move the axle around on the drivers side a little. I'm assuming thats bad? Help please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 We can't help until you post another picture. JK Axles can and do move a little. They can wiggle some on the drive studs that come out of the transmission. It shouldn't move any where it goes through the steering knuckle. If it moves there the wheel bearing is bad. It also should not move horizontally (slide towards or away from) to the transmission. Clank noise... Not real sure. Can you make a video or sound clip of it? Is it loud or can the radio cover it up at low volume? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subruise Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 check your ball joints. changing wheel diameter maight have changed the geometry of them and, while they sounded fine w/ the old wheels the wear may show now. or i could be totally wrong. but check em. RV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98ImprezaWA Posted September 30, 2010 Author Share Posted September 30, 2010 haha if I had newer pics to post I would! It is a horizontal movement. :-\ If I'm listening to the radio I hear it if I'm specifically listening for it. Windows closed. It was making the noise before I changed the wheels. They didn't make any difference in the sound at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subruise Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 hmmm i dunno then. check em anyway. RV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Come to think of it, there could be a small amount of movement in that manner. As long as it's not more than a few mm it's probably fine. As for the noise... I'm still having trouble coming up with what might make a clank/clunk. I'm thinking something along the lines of a broken spring. Maybe a better description would help... Where was that list of car noise descriptions someone posted a while back... Let me see if I can find that. Just jack the car up and look for anything out of the ordinary. Please for the sake of all that is worth living for use jack stands and don't crawl under the car when it's only held up by a jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98ImprezaWA Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 Ooh there's a list of car noises?! I'll search for that too. Thanks! Tomorrow/Saturday are designated car days! (clean, try and readjust the wipers, oil change etc...) haha I'll see if I can find anything to better describe the noise, and try to track it down a little better. Its really frustrating! And I'll use the jack stands for sure! I promise! ...always do. This may be a dumb question, but whatever. What is the best manual for a 98 EJ22? Chilton? I always hear bad things about the Hayes ones. Are Bentley manuals any good for Subaru? I really feel like I should have one, but I don't know which one to get! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 Never heard of Bentley. I prefer factory service manuals. But if you must use 3rd party manuals a mixture of Haynes and Chiltons will usually get you most of the info you need between the two. Didn't have any time for searching for the noise list today... I HAD to drive 3 hours (one way) to buy a lift kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnuman Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 get under the car and see if you can move the outside shell of the inner CV joint. Some aftermarket ones do not fit well and make a noise just like you are describing. You can also check the wheel berring by trying to move the wheel at top and bottom. if it moves, you need the berring. if it moves front to back, you need to look into tie rod ends, and if it moves only at the bottom, look to the ball joints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 Found one. It wasn't the one I was looking for but it pretty much covers it. http://www.autohausaz.com/html/car_noises.html Also found an audio aided list courtesy of the Tappet brothers. http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Noises/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98ImprezaWA Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 Also found an audio aided list courtesy of the Tappet brothers. http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/Noises/ This had me laughing hysterically! Thank you for that, you're my hero at the moment! And I'm sure my neighbors are wondering wtf! From your first link, it seems most like a Clunk. I successfully managed to waste pretty much all of today, and didn't get under the car to look around at all. But tomorrow, I swear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 If you didn't find it yet, the usual cause of a "clunk" is a bad ball joint or tie rod end. But it could be a bad strut or some worn bushings of some kind. The rear bushings on the control arms are filled with grease, if the grease leaks out the back part of the arm flops around and can make a racket. Usually only during acceleration or breaking though. This had me laughing hysterically! Thank you for that, you're my hero at the moment! I loved the "Grandma" one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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