Hommonabibbida Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Hi folks. My Outback (65km) has a rattly, clattering sound from front end, both sides when driving on bumpy surface: Must noticeably when traveling our three mile dirt road to the house. Lightly riding the brakes snubs the noise out. Have replaced the pads, tinkered with the anti-rattle plates, replaced the caliper fixing bolts, stuffed the fixing bolt slide-holes with ht grease. All helps marginally for a few days but the noise returns in full eventually. I can wiggle the caliper enough by hand, to get a muffled click sound from it. Am I on the wrong trail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I guess you've checked the antisway bar links and brackets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hommonabibbida Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 No - Did not even have a look there... Will be a week before I can though, so will get to it then. If there is looseness there, do you recommend stock bushings, or perhaps something better? Thanks for the response! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 No - Did not even have a look there... Will be a week before I can though, so will get to it then. If there is looseness there, do you recommend stock bushings, or perhaps something better? Thanks for the response! Just trying to think of something that could rattle at both sides. As for upgrades, Most folks go for the rear sway bar, but given that you are actually off road regularly, perhaps an upgrade at both ends could be in order? maybe someone else will jump in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 I think hes asking about upgraded bushings for the sway bar. Aftermarket polyurethane bushings are arguably "better" since they will last longer than stock rubber, but they are likely to transfer more vibration and shock form the road into the chassis of the car which you may feel as a rougher ride. Given that you travel a rough road, (rough in terms of normal vs severe driving conditions) It would be wise to inspect everything in the front end; ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, struts and mounts, swaybar links, etc. Brake parts will move slightly while driving. I think there would need to be a fairly large amount of movement to make a noticeable noise when on a gravel road (something that can be heard over the sound of gravel under the tires), but that doesn't rule out the brakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 I think the noise is still with your brakes. It prolly is not a serious problem, just annoying to hear the noise. I am not familiar with 08 brakes, as my car is a 99. Still, I don't think Subie reinvented brake technology in the past 10 years. I would suspect the anti-rattle shims as the source of your problem. They are designed to put pressure on the brake pads to keep them from rattling around when not in use. When all this rattling noise is heard, just lightly apply your brakes. If the noise stops, then it most likely is the shims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 I think the noise is still with your brakes. It prolly is not a serious problem, just annoying to hear the noise. I am not familiar with 08 brakes, as my car is a 99. Still, I don't think Subie reinvented brake technology in the past 10 years. I would suspect the anti-rattle shims as the source of your problem. They are designed to put pressure on the brake pads to keep them from rattling around when not in use. When all this rattling noise is heard, just lightly apply your brakes. If the noise stops, then it most likely is the shims. he did say light brake application snubs the noise so, I think you might be spot-on with your post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hommonabibbida Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Thanks for the info and advice folks. Shims was the 1st thing I went after. Tried new ones, smeared the pads with anti-squeal goo, bent the shim tabs to put more pressure on them and so on. It is good advice to have the whole front end looked at since hundreds of miles of that dirt road have passed under it since new. Wonder if the Subaru extended warranty will cover some of this... We'll see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephan_from_Belgium Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Hello, I am new to this forum, I arrived here while searching about the brake rattle problem. I had exactly the same problem as describe above : rattling noise when going over small bumps or uneven road, or road with dirt. - at 30.000 km : front RH rattle - replaced bushings on sway bar : no result - it became clear the brake caliper was faulty : noise disappeared when brake pedal is pushed - replaced guide pins of caliper : no result - at 60.000 km : complete0 caliper replaced under warranty) : PROBLEM SOLVED - at 110.000 km : replaced front brake pads (1st time) afther this : LH brake does not always loosen, after applying brakes - at 120.000 km : "made brake pads loose", and greased sticky guide pin after this : LH brake starts to rattle, the same as described above... There we go again - at 130.000 km : service kit from Subary : new shims for the back of the brake pads, and special "Subaru rubber grease" for the guide pins. They also applied cupper grease on the pad contact points. during this rework, they found the rubber bushing on the guide pin broken (maybe used wrong grease - rubber swollen?) Result : noise gone at the LH side, but now it is there again at the RH side. VERY ANNOYING! My question (to Hommonabibbida and eventually other members) : DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS NOISE AND HOW CAN IT BE SOLVED? HOW MANY TIMES (KM) SHOULD ONE REWORK THE GUIDE PIN GREASE AND/OR REPLACE THE ANTI RATTLE CLIPS ON THE SHIMS? This car is a real pleasure to drive, and apart from the brake rattling I had no problems. But due to the noise, a lot of the pleasure is gone... Thanks for an answer! Stephan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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