Spec B suspension issues

[sgaites]

Hi all, this is my first post since I bought my MY06 3.0R Spec B.

A couple of issues / questions about the front suspension.

There is a really noticeable squeak/creak from the front offside. I've sprayed all the joints with silicon, including the top mount but it persists. Anyone come across this before ?

The suspension is generally really hard and quite crashy....speedbumps and rail crossings are spine jarring ! Is this just the way it is with the lowered Bilsteins, or does anyone think that the shocks or suspension components might be worn out ?

Any suggestions welcome
cheers
Simon

[GONEWALKABOUT]

Did you weld your struts solid for better handling?

Id say unless you mean 'crashy' as in bottoming out, your struts are struggling. How low did you go with the springs and how many kms.
Mine are standard height and not 'crashy' at all

[sgaites]

Did you weld your struts solid for better handling?

Id say unless you mean 'crashy' as in bottoming out, your struts are struggling. How low did you go with the springs and how many kms.
Mine are standard height and not 'crashy' at all

hi, I haven't done anything with the suspension since I bought it. I'm pretty sure the struts haven't been welded. As far as I know its standard set up but perhaps I'll get it into a Subaru dealer for a look....I bought it from a small garage. Its on 143k and I see no history to suggest its had new anything...

[GONEWALKABOUT]

haha the welding part was just a joke id say they are probably nearing the end of their life span. Either that or youre not slowing down for speed bumps haha.

On a serious note does the car bounce for an oddly long period of time after you go over a bump?

[sgaites]

Nope its not bouncing. Just seems way too hard. Having to go down to 5k for a speed bump is a bit of a pain. Maybe I just need to live with it, but I'll deffo have a good look at the weekend to make sure I haven't got spurious parts under there.
cheers

[geematt]

I had low speed creak/groan from front strut for ages (approx 100k). Complained to stealership when in warrantee and was told they couldn't find it !
Eventually the stealership reported that the strut had failed and required replacing (165k).

There is a thread on the Bilstein shockies in here somewhere. Suggest you read through that, but it is likely that you have this issues - It is a known fault with the billies.

http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=11917

Good Luck, and steer away from stealership re replacement of struts.

[sgaites]

Had a bit of a look this morning. Have discovered that the RHS struct has come from a wreckers yard, and I think its from a 3GEN B4. That might explain a lot....the weight of a 3.0 engine on suspension meant for a 2.0 ??

Here are some pics of RHS and LHS struts

RHS

Part number
20310AE220

LHS

Part number 20310AG430

What do you think folks.....seems to me a new set is in order left and right

[sgaites]

Hey, can anyone recommend whether there is an issue with the RHS strut being from a b4? Cheers

[HardwareBoB]

Hey, can anyone recommend whether there is an issue with the RHS strut being from a b4? Cheers

not sure about the B4, but according to the shockworks R&D, the weight difference between the 3.0 and the 2.0 turbo is negliible and unimportant from a suspension standpoint.
That said, I'd be replacing the as a matter of course.