Bilstein Knock?...I doubt it!

[tom_kauf]

I just took mine to Heasmans in Sydney with the same problem. They jacked it up to find nothing wrong. They took it for another drive and it was gone. Apparently, by fully extending the shock, then compressing it again, it fixed it. Which means at the end of the day,after 145000km, I need to re-co the billies. $352 + labour for the front.

That's exactly what my mechanic said as well . After they jacked it up, the noise went away when they drove it. I didn't mention it because I thought they were clutching at straws (and they couldn't really reproduce the noise, which was hard to believe because it was very noticeable).

Was your noise really a rotional repetitive clunk-clunk-clunk when turning? And also worse after some driving (when car has warmed up)?
I still struggle to believe that's a suspension noise, but I may be wrong. If you say it was the same symptoms, and confirm fixed after you get the Billies reconditioned, then I'm convinced .

[amprok]

this sounds like the issue i'm having except mine happens when driving straight as well as turning

[SPB30R]

I just took mine to Heasmans in Sydney with the same problem. They jacked it up to find nothing wrong. They took it for another drive and it was gone. Apparently, by fully extending the shock, then compressing it again, it fixed it. Which means at the end of the day,after 145000km, I need to re-co the billies. $352 + labour for the front.

That's exactly what my mechanic said as well . After they jacked it up, the noise went away when they drove it. I didn't mention it because I thought they were clutching at straws (and they couldn't really reproduce the noise, which was hard to believe because it was very noticeable).

Was your noise really a rotional repetitive clunk-clunk-clunk when turning? And also worse after some driving (when car has warmed up)?
I still struggle to believe that's a suspension noise, but I may be wrong. If you say it was the same symptoms, and confirm fixed after you get the Billies reconditioned, then I'm convinced .

I notice it when cruising slowly in a straight line and when im turning right. The noise came back after a couple of days but since putting on new tyres a few days ago, the noise is gone again. Ill be getting the front end done when I get the approval signed off by the "Minister of Finance" and let you know how its going after a week or so

[tom_kauf]

I notice it when cruising slowly in a straight line and when im turning right. The noise came back after a couple of days but since putting on new tyres a few days ago, the noise is gone again. Ill be getting the front end done when I get the approval signed off by the "Minister of Finance" and let you know how its going after a week or so

Ok, sounds very similar.
Yes please, that'd be great to hear if it fixed the issue or not .

[Lib_king]

Update on my situation:

Dropped the Lib into my mechanic up here, they drove it and immediately diagnosed the VC.

After draining the gearbox, they found that it was contaminated and had a 'metallic' sheen and suggested to replace the whole assembly

$1450 later, i purchase a full gearbox assembly (w/ 65,000 on it) and it is waiting to be put in over the next couple of days

Looking forward to the outcome...

[tom_kauf]

Update on my situation:

Dropped the Lib into my mechanic up here, they drove it and immediately diagnosed the VC.

After draining the gearbox, they found that it was contaminated and had a 'metallic' sheen and suggested to replace the whole assembly

$1450 later, i purchase a full gearbox assembly (w/ 65,000 on it) and it is waiting to be put in over the next couple of days

Looking forward to the outcome...

Thanks for the update. Good to hear you saved some money on a 2nd hand gearbox (still an expensive exercise but just a Centre Diff was that much new).

[tom_kauf]

I notice it when cruising slowly in a straight line and when im turning right. The noise came back after a couple of days but since putting on new tyres a few days ago, the noise is gone again. Ill be getting the front end done when I get the approval signed off by the "Minister of Finance" and let you know how its going after a week or so

Any update on this SPB30R?

Is ok if you haven't had a chance (lots of things on my ToDo list haven't gotten done yet lol), just wanted to check because I had lots of front end knocking again today (some days it's more than others).

[GREIDY]

hi guys,
i doubted it too, they're bilsteins afterall right...???

i have a GTspecB 2.5T and have experienced the "Bilstein Knock" for some time now...
it was explained to me by subaru service that it is simply a bilstein issue...
fact is, it is true... i have actually spoken to bilstein who advised that subaru supplied bilstein with a lower grade oil to reduce the cost...
the guy from bilstein told me that the subaru tech was a genius because warranty is 100,000km and that's almost exactly how long the oil will last...
they can be re-co'd by bilstein for roughly $200/tower if supplied off the car or $ 450 on car and will be better than new as the bilstein grade oil/fluid is far superior...
don't let anyone tell you different, i've been told all sorts of remedies BUT the bilstein knock IS A FACT...!!!

i have been getting the towers re-greased & tightened which works for a couple of months but with 215,000km on the clock it's now shockworks time for me...

anyone interested in STI springs on Bilstein, i'll be selling soon


cheers
Glenn

[tom_kauf]

Thanks Glenn . I had no doubt the Billie knock existed, just didn't think it was such a rotational knock. But evidence is really looking like it is. Awesome, coz it's not such an expensive fix.

[cycleofabuse]

I have this knocking noise in my car. My mechanic thought he was a genius, as he just used some spray lube to fix the problem... for about a week! Then the noise returned.
I bought a can of WD40 high performance wet PTFE, jacked up each wheel and sprayed a bit on each shock. Again it solved the problem, but only for another week. An ok temporary relief, but I think actually having them regreased is the only way to go. For now I'll keep giving them a spray every now and then and see how it goes.

[Adaam]

Same issue, got tyres fitted and the noise has gone. Time for new shocks.

[tom_kauf]

Thanks to Dave, who suggested spraying the shocks with Wet PTFE Lubricant (WD40 brand) with the car jacked up, to confirm the source of the noise is the shocks.

It's CONFIRMED - NOISE IS GONE! . At least till it wears off, but the source of my noise is now indisputable. I got the PTFE Lubricant from bunnings (link of what it looks like below), jacked up each front wheel and sprayed some in there. Even after a lengthy drive incl driving continual circles in a carpark, there's no noise at all.

http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=31454

Same/similar noise and feel in my car (same car as yours) and it's actually the front shocks. WD40 Wet PTFE provides relief for about a week, but ultimately they need to be reconditioned. I would try that first and if the noise goes away, then at least you've diagnosed the problem without spending a fortune. Just spray some into each shock and go for a spin.

This needs to be saved somewhere for all those with the same issue. No one has suggested this in *ALL* the threads about Clunking noises while turning on this forum.

I've spent years trying to pinpoint my clunking noise. Even spent a small fortune getting my Centre Diff replaced (which did improve things, but I still had this other noise). Several mechanics incl dealer couldn’t find the source - they suspected Shocks but weren't sure.

And I'd recommend to anyone to get the actual Lubricant that Dave suggested, not just using normal WD40. Maybe normal WD40 will work too, but for the sake of $17, it's worth a try.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/wd-40-specialist-300g-high-performance-wet-ptfe-lubricant_p6100411

[McDoof]

I'll give that a go on mine. I have a similar knock

[Adaam]

Fitted new coilovers, no noise, smoother ride over stock..

[tom_kauf]

The noise has come back now. The lubricant lasted pretty much a week (as predicted).
Oh well, eventually I'll get it fixed properly....