Rattling after Strut install?

MorallyBass · 05-29-2007, 06:04 PM

Two questions:
1) What's the proper torque spec for the bolts securing the rear strut tophats to the chassis? (2004 STi)
2) Other than loose bolts securing tophats/strut assembly to the chassis - what could cause a rattling/clunking from right rear tire area? These are new struts - not clunking struts! All interior pieces in this area have been tightened and re-secured. Leading me to believe it's something loose in the suspension component.

Help?

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MorallyBass · 05-29-2007, 06:05 PM

Follow-up - I'd like to double check everything is tightened to spec (had a problem with loose endlinks after swaybar install - tightening bolts there fixed another clunk from front-end). If that fails, will investigate other potential issues.

UkNuck · 05-29-2007, 06:34 PM

AFAIK the tophat to chassis bolts are and always have been 14.5 ft-lb (20 Nm)

A more common cause of rattling is the actual strut topnut (41 ft-lb or 55 Nm) which is harder to torque adequately

As you say, endlinks are another common source

MorallyBass · 06-04-2007, 12:32 PM

Thanks for the help here. I'm hoping to torque these down after work tonight.

It shouldn't be a problem to check the chassis bolts with a torque wrench. Will the top-nut be trickier?

UkNuck · 06-04-2007, 12:44 PM

Yes it will be trickier.

If you have stock struts, there is a hex head in the top of the shaft which you can use to hold it from turning. You will need a pass-through type socket. In the past I have managed to do a final torque by using an offset box wrench to hold the nut and then torquing the hex.

Or you can sometimes get enough grip with a rubber strap wrench on the strut. It allows you to use a regular socket/torque wrench on the nut. With most aftermarket struts that's your only option.

MorallyBass · 06-04-2007, 12:48 PM

I've got brand new Ohlins fixed perch struts, which were professionally installed.

I've been hearing this sound after installation.

I had problems with loose endlinks in the front soon after install, so I'm skeptical of proper torquing. I want to try to re-torque the rear strut to rule out the rattle coming from that area of the vehicle. Thanks, I'll see what I can do. If it's this tricky, I can see why they may not have torqued it properly.

UkNuck · 06-04-2007, 12:52 PM

In that case you should talk to your installer - the torque specs I gave you are for stock pieces

mrchyes · 02-24-2013, 06:09 PM

the tophat on my rattling strut was defective, causing the strut top nut to not be physically able to tighten it down, the nut was at the end of the threads, couldnt tighten any more, yet there was wobble room for the tophat between there, that was the rattle. Used my old tophat, problem fixed. yay

05-29-2007, 06:04 PM	#1
MorallyBass Scooby Newbie Member#: 58094 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Somerville, MA Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi WRB	Rattling after Strut install? Two questions: 1) What's the proper torque spec for the bolts securing the rear strut tophats to the chassis? (2004 STi) 2) Other than loose bolts securing tophats/strut assembly to the chassis - what could cause a rattling/clunking from right rear tire area? These are new struts - not clunking struts! All interior pieces in this area have been tightened and re-secured. Leading me to believe it's something loose in the suspension component. Help? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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05-29-2007, 06:05 PM	#2
MorallyBass Scooby Newbie Member#: 58094 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Somerville, MA Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi WRB	Follow-up - I'd like to double check everything is tightened to spec (had a problem with loose endlinks after swaybar install - tightening bolts there fixed another clunk from front-end). If that fails, will investigate other potential issues.

05-29-2007, 06:34 PM	#3
UkNuck Scooby Guru Member#: 21808 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: National Capital Region Vehicle: 02 GroceryGettAr Nonemore Black	AFAIK the tophat to chassis bolts are and always have been 14.5 ft-lb (20 Nm) A more common cause of rattling is the actual strut topnut (41 ft-lb or 55 Nm) which is harder to torque adequately As you say, endlinks are another common source

06-04-2007, 12:32 PM	#4
MorallyBass Scooby Newbie Member#: 58094 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Somerville, MA Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi WRB	Thanks for the help here. I'm hoping to torque these down after work tonight. It shouldn't be a problem to check the chassis bolts with a torque wrench. Will the top-nut be trickier?

06-04-2007, 12:44 PM	#5
UkNuck Scooby Guru Member#: 21808 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: National Capital Region Vehicle: 02 GroceryGettAr Nonemore Black	Yes it will be trickier. If you have stock struts, there is a hex head in the top of the shaft which you can use to hold it from turning. You will need a pass-through type socket. In the past I have managed to do a final torque by using an offset box wrench to hold the nut and then torquing the hex. Or you can sometimes get enough grip with a rubber strap wrench on the strut. It allows you to use a regular socket/torque wrench on the nut. With most aftermarket struts that's your only option.

06-04-2007, 12:48 PM	#6
MorallyBass Scooby Newbie Member#: 58094 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Somerville, MA Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi WRB	I've got brand new Ohlins fixed perch struts, which were professionally installed. I've been hearing this sound after installation. I had problems with loose endlinks in the front soon after install, so I'm skeptical of proper torquing. I want to try to re-torque the rear strut to rule out the rattle coming from that area of the vehicle. Thanks, I'll see what I can do. If it's this tricky, I can see why they may not have torqued it properly.

06-04-2007, 12:52 PM	#7
UkNuck Scooby Guru Member#: 21808 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: National Capital Region Vehicle: 02 GroceryGettAr Nonemore Black	In that case you should talk to your installer - the torque specs I gave you are for stock pieces

02-24-2013, 06:09 PM	#8
mrchyes Scooby Specialist Member#: 294069 Join Date: Sep 2011 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: NE Iowa Vehicle: 04 Impreza RS PSM	the tophat on my rattling strut was defective, causing the strut top nut to not be physically able to tighten it down, the nut was at the end of the threads, couldnt tighten any more, yet there was wobble room for the tophat between there, that was the rattle. Used my old tophat, problem fixed. yay