05 3.0rB Suspension

[matt_3.0rb]

Hey guys,

New here, bought an 05 RB wagon 2 weeks ago, and found last week a rattle coming from the front drivers suspension. Local dealer who has serviced the car all its life tightened the top of the strut tower, despite me telling him that it couldnt be that or the noise would happen all the time, rather than just slow corners.
Reading through here i think its the suspension bushes, which will obviously need to be replaced.
The car has done 140,000 km, and while i was reading through the forum came across the Bilstein set up for sale through wheel power in Sydney.

What are ppl's thoughts no just going nuts over the whole suspension and replacing all struts and springs with the wheel power ones and doing all the bushes at the same time. My theory is it cant hurt, but is it worth it?

Also while thats being done has anyone got any suggestions for anything else that could be done at the same time, either mods or refreshing type stuff. Its got all new brakes on it, and has been serviced on time everytime to the book by the dealer.

Other than that id just like to say how good is the 3.0RB Drove a sedan 2 years ago, and have wanted one ever since, and finally circumstances arose where i was able to get one.
Sorry for the mammoth post.

Matt

[youngy69]

Depends on what your plans are for the car,daily,occasional track etc.Sway bars are always a good start to sharpen up,it also comes down to how big your wallet is as well.140K is not a great deal for these and as for your knock it is generally the top strut nut that comes loose.Bush wise replace the rear lower control arm bushes with either OEM (good for about 60k) or ask some of the other guys what they have replaced them with.
Cheers Eddie

[matt_3.0rb]

Thanks Eddie,
Plans really are just for a daily, but i like something i can drive properly when the mood takes me. We have some great roads down here, but they arent always the best quality, or sometimes arent even sealed. I am in the process of aquiring an old alfa as a track and hill climb type car, so that should sustain my urge to track the lib. I think the standards are probably the best option really, as i need the ground clearance to stay about the same. The noise is only on slow corners, there are a few old threads about which people have described getting the bushes fixed and it goes away.

I also read somewhere that struts should be rebuilt every 100,000 or so, and there is no mention in any of the service documents to say that this has been done.
If its not worth the struts then ill save myself $600.

As far as other mods go, my wallet isnt that deep, im still a student, i work hard enough to buy the stuff i want and support myself, but if its unnecessary i can prob use the money elsewhere

But im thinking struts, springs, and the lower control arm bushes that Phat had a while ago, i read a thread about them, seems the goods over the standard ones that fall appart and are more expensive. just a full freshen up, keep the old billies and if anything goes wrong ive got a spare set.

[hamish_023]

"struts should be rebuilt every 100,000"

Thats just wheelpower ebay talk to sell more gear. i have riden in a 98 Bilstein that hasn't been touched and clicked a few over 200,000 and still ride pretty smooth

[teK--]

"struts should be rebuilt every 100,000"

Thats just wheelpower ebay talk to sell more gear. i have riden in a 98 Bilstein that hasn't been touched and clicked a few over 200,000 and still ride pretty smooth

Depends on how picky you are. Quadrant Suspension who are the Bilstein agents in Melbourne also recommend about 100KKms, less if on aggressively lowered springs. I ran Koni on my last car I would say by 100KKms I would have liked to rebuild them but I just put up with it due to $$$.

Certainly a set of dampers at 100KKms is not going to feel anywhere near as nice as brand new ones, but if that is acceptable then they don't need to be rebuilt.

[matt_3.0rb]

The suspension feels fine, plus the car has had a pretty easy life. it is genuinely all highway 1 person km.
Just had a few issues with my last 2 cars, and am still on the 'better get replacement parts while they are cheap' thought process, as everything that could go wrong did with the last 2. (not subarus tho) maybe just bushes then.

[mud]

I've had recurring rattles in my front suspension and have had LHF strut replaced under warranty twice. After a while it comes back again though.

I have now found if I loosen the top not and then re tighten with a rattle gun it is fine for a few months.

[matt_3.0rb]

Ah ok, I think when i get my next service i might organise some new bushes for the front (not genuine, prob from Phat when i get around to emailing him) and see how that goes, if it doesnt fix it, then new good quality bushes cant hurt, and ill just replace the struts. The car has had it pretty easy, so i dont think the suspension should be stuffed, but by the sounds of it, its a reasonably regular thing with the bilstiens, so wouldnt hurt to replace them either

[kaycy]

The bilstein suspension is supposed to be warrantied for the life of the car. Dealerships will not tell you this, they would claim to be doing it for free. Contact subaru Australia and find out more from them, that phone call might save you a few dollars.

[Adrian2627]

I replaced my rear LCA bushes not long ago with Nolethane items and they feel much sharper than OEM. A good option to go for first as they are definately cheaper than Bilsteins.

[matt_3.0rb]

Weel just had a major service done, and they went over everything and tightened it all etc, went for a road test when i picked it up to show them the noise (which had gotten worse) and it had gone. So whatever they did has fixed it. (see if it comes back) but it could just be something coming loose.

The bilstein suspension is supposed to be warrantied for the life of the car. Dealerships will not tell you this, they would claim to be doing it for free. Contact subaru Australia and find out more from them, that phone call might save you a few dollars.

If something is ever wrong with the bilstiens i will be definately be making that call.

How did you find that out?

[matt_3.0rb]

Quick update:
Noise had come back, and had to take it back to Subaru for a bung for the gearbox that they were going to replace so told them to check the noise.
this time they found it, and called me to say the suspension bushes were totally stuffed and needed replacing. After mentioning this last time i was told when i picked the car up that the bushes were fine <1000km ago.
So they replaced the bushes ($500)and then called me to say the noise has got better, but isnt gone and ill also need new strut bearings, another $500. But they dont have them and so would need to do it another time.
It seems to me like a lazy job, found the noise, let replace what it could be, then look if its still there. Seems unlikely that the suspension bushes that were fine less than 1000km ago and 3 weeks were all of a sudden totally stuffed. There was also a bunch of things missed off the 150,000km service which are itemised on the bill.
So in short im not very happy with the service centre down here, and will most likely go back tomorrow for some stern words now i've thought about it. I dont really have the cash to have them just replace everything in the vain hope they find it. Id prefer someone to have a proper look and tell me what it actually is.

[nico]

Welcome to the world of Subaru service

I'd def. be having stern words. Something along the lines of "you told me that X would fix the problem!?". It hasn't, so why should i pay for it? Then ask them for an assurance that the next thing they do will fix the problem otherwise you're not going to pay for that either. Simple.

They'll soon get serious about correctly diagnosing the problem if they know you're gonna be a hard arse

[Robbks]

bastards
but that is typical of PA's down here, never go back.
They will never lay hands on my RB
there are plenty of good mechanics in Hobart

for factory Subaru-Trained Experience go to Specialist Car Centre

[matt_3.0rb]

Ive got it going in to Buckby's in Lonnie later in the month.
They are the only people to touch the car other than the last service at PA.

I went back to see the head subaru service person, and she was less than helpful.

Buckby's will look at it, and have promissed to fix the issues missed at the last service and will check strut top bearings.

Anyone have any recommendations as to whether i can get them cheaper, or a better aftermarket set. from subaru they are $136 each. i can get them for $120 from subaru parts, but was just wondering if anyone else has any ideas or experience with other things.

And i will be going elsewhere from now on, will talk to you rob about your experiences in Hobart, as i have none other than PA.