Metalic clank/clack from front driver's side - wheel grinding when turning right - 06 Impreza Outback Sport

[ravid]

Hey y'all.

 

So I own an 06' Impreza Outback Sport, and for like the past year or 2 there has been a constant rattling coming from what seems like the driver's side of the car. It happens when I hit any sort of bump, especially small ones. If I'm on a rough road it sounds like my car is literally falling apart. It sounds like metal on metal CLANKING, that's the only way to describe it. It's not dull, it's loud and metalic. It drives me absolutely insane, and I'm not super good with cars so I don't know what's causing it. 

 

A few winters back, a snow drift at the bottom of my street had a channel cut through it by running water. My car, being low, slammed the front end and cracked my front moulding to the point where it was falling off the car. My dav thought of a good fix using sheet metal strap to resecure it which worked well and doesn't really stand out either. but after months of this constant rattle I thought it might be metal on metal contact with the straps and so we redid it. This didn't work. The rattle continued.

 

I recently took my car in to replace all my tires because the last alignment I got was apparently crap and made the insides of my back tires completely bald. They aligned it, and I asked them to try to find the source of this rattle, which they couldn't find. Though I don't think they even really tried. He said something vague about it probably being my front molding because i told him what happened. I highly doubt this is the cause, the sound is a semi-metallic clanking while the moulding is plastic.

 

When I redid the strap with my dad, we noticed the engine cover/splash guard had a tiny bit of play when we pushed it. And conceivably if not secure could rattle. I think a few of the clips are missing and I plan on replacing them, however, I don't know the correct ones to get. This would make sense because I think it started around the time my front end fell apart, and a scrape like that could strip a clip from the undercarriage. But everywhere I look online, it always ends up being something else like a sway bar causing front side clunking, though I don't think any of them have the sound I have. It is not a clunk, it is a CLACK. Either metal on metal or hard plastic on metal.

 

It is going to drive me insane. It's to the point where I don't even wanna roll my windows down because I'll hear it. Even with them up I can sometimes hear it in the cabin.

 

Any thoughts on what it is?

 

Also, I don't know when this started, but when I cut my wheel hard to the right (to pull into a parking spot or something), there is an obvious grinding noise that is most definitely the tire. I checked my wheel well and I don't see anything out of sorts. This doesn't happen when I pull in to the left. It seems to abate when I slow down, so if I'm going like 2-3 MPH I usually don't hear it. But I absolutely hate it, I should be able to cut the wheel with no grinding. 

 

It sounds like if you've ever stopped a bike wheel with your shoe as a kid

 

If anyone can help me I would really appreciate it. I have a nice car, I hate it sounding like it's falling apart going over bumpy roads or pulling into a parking spot.

 

Otherwise, I'm to the point where im going to take it to the only Subaru service in the city and pay OUT THE NOSE it get it fixed because i am not leaving until it is.

 

Thank you very much

[golucky66]

The first noise you're describing. The metal clanking. Sounds like a sway bar link making noise. Either that or an issue with the strut.

 

The turning and hearing a grinding noise. That can be brake related. Does the sound change when you touch the brake?

If not that noise can be from something rubbing against the tire.

[brus brother]

top mount for strut has possibly broken loose from assembly

[Fairtax4me]

Does the rattle go away if you press the brake pedal? Check brake pads, could have lost an anti-rattle clip.

 

Tire is probably rubbing against the wheel well liner making the grinding sound.

Tires move quite a bit when the car is rolling. Theyre rubber, they flex, and the car puts a lot of lateral force on the tires when you turn.

Turn the wheel all the way to the direction that normally makes the noise, then Look and feel in front, behind, and inside both tires and find where the tire is closest to the fender, liner, etc.