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Old 05-01-2013, 01:23 AM   #1
2010 WRX Limited
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Default Clicking and Creaking Clutch in 08+ WRX

I know someone else was asking about a click or creak in thier clutch pedal on their 08+ WRX. I've been aware of the issue on my car for some time but it's been on and off until recently with the warmer afternoon weather it happens my whole drive home. It's driving me nuts and I will have to address it. In any case I found an interesting thread about this issue:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...t=clutch+click

There's a class action taking place on the problem:
http://www.subarufirewallclassaction.com/

Anyone else having this issue here?
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Old 05-01-2013, 03:32 AM   #2
DIGGYGV8
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I'm more annoyed at the a-pillar cracking noise, and the rear deck (for the trunk in my sedan) rattling due to ****ty sound deadening... but I also have a really loud exhaust...

It also seems to affect the earlier years more, I will ask some of my buddy's who aren't on the boards.
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Old 05-05-2013, 04:30 PM   #3
Rialb22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DIGGYGV8 View Post
I'm more annoyed at the a-pillar cracking noise, and the rear deck (for the trunk in my sedan) rattling due to ****ty sound deadening... but I also have a really loud exhaust...

It also seems to affect the earlier years more, I will ask some of my buddy's who aren't on the boards.
I have a tip for everyone. I had mentioned the creaking noise that was coming from the A-Pillar on our 2009 impreza, and there was a subaru warranty fix for it. They happily took it in and re-mounted the cover. The technician told me that all they do is wrap a piece of tape around the clips that hold the cover on and voilla. Fixed! I never heard it squeak again. If you don't feel like taking it in, I figure it would only take you 15 mins at home.
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Old 05-10-2013, 02:21 PM   #4
bender
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speak of the devil....
the customer with the 08WRX came back today complaining of a clutch squeak again.



you can see where it was welded the first time. looks like the other weld broke. this is right behind the wiper motor which I removed
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Old 05-01-2013, 10:29 AM   #5
Studebaker83
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I don't have a solution about the clutch but as for Diggygv8 I found shoving a sock under the rear deck and it stopped the rattling there.

At Home Depot in the States (it isn't carried in Canada) in the roofing section you can buy stuff that looks/works and basically is dynamat but a lot cheaper. It drastically cut down the a-pillar rattle for me
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Old 05-01-2013, 04:27 PM   #6
DIGGYGV8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Studebaker83 View Post
I don't have a solution about the clutch but as for Diggygv8 I found shoving a sock under the rear deck and it stopped the rattling there.

At Home Depot in the States (it isn't carried in Canada) in the roofing section you can buy stuff that looks/works and basically is dynamat but a lot cheaper. It drastically cut down the a-pillar rattle for me
****... I have to try this sock trick... since I suck at pulling plastic panels off! (if anyone would like to assist, that'd be awesome)

thanks for the heads up!
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Old 05-01-2013, 06:48 PM   #7
Batmar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Studebaker83 View Post

At Home Depot in the States (it isn't carried in Canada) in the roofing section you can buy stuff that looks/works and basically is dynamat but a lot cheaper. It drastically cut down the a-pillar rattle for me
I noticed the a pillar rattle at first when I bought the car but after I installed my strut bar it went away... I dunno if there's any connection but maybe less flex meant less creaking/rattle
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Old 05-01-2013, 08:24 PM   #8
bender
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yup. one of our regular customer has a 08 wrx. he complain of a clutch squeak about a year after having the car. I notice the support for the clutch pedal that was welded to the firewall had cracked. it was repaired under warranty
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Old 05-02-2013, 04:22 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bender View Post
yup. one of our regular customer has a 08 wrx. he complain of a clutch squeak about a year after having the car. I notice the support for the clutch pedal that was welded to the firewall had cracked. it was repaired under warranty
Oh that's good to know. Do you know where he went for the warranty work? I have heard of people getting it fixed even out of warranty because it's a 'manufacturer defect' but it seems to be hit and miss from what I've read.
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Old 05-02-2013, 04:41 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by 2010 WRX Limited View Post

Oh that's good to know. Do you know where he went for the warranty work? I have heard of people getting it fixed even out of warranty because it's a 'manufacturer defect' but it seems to be hit and miss from what I've read.
Dealer told me that if it was past 3 years/36k miles its up to the customer to take care of it, but they did say to shoot SOA a call to see about a "good will" repair....
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Old 05-02-2013, 01:56 AM   #11
cp2503
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damn it... The clicking sound happened today... I found out where it is but couldn't fix it.
there is a white nipple spring loaded it "clicks " everytime I push in the clutch.
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Old 05-02-2013, 02:10 AM   #12
jque11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Studebaker83 View Post
I don't have a solution about the clutch but as for Diggygv8 I found shoving a sock under the rear deck and it stopped the rattling there.

At Home Depot in the States (it isn't carried in Canada) in the roofing section you can buy stuff that looks/works and basically is dynamat but a lot cheaper. It drastically cut down the a-pillar rattle for me

By any chance it's called peel and stick? Or something like it? If so it should be available here too. It's used against water penetration mostly at openings like window jambs and sills. Good idea though as I never even thought about using it as a dynamat replacement.
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Old 05-02-2013, 09:14 AM   #13
Studebaker83
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Originally Posted by jque11 View Post
By any chance it's called peel and stick? Or something like it? If so it should be available here too. It's used against water penetration mostly at openings like window jambs and sills. Good idea though as I never even thought about using it as a dynamat replacement.
This is the stuff.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/USeal-Ban...0#.UYJmT7WG0vk

When I went into a HD in Canada I could not find it in the store and was told it wasn't available in Canada....if you can find it here let me know.
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Old 05-02-2013, 04:15 AM   #14
DIGGYGV8
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I was told to use sound deadener because that stuff lasts forever... On the other hand... Weighs a **** load...
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Old 05-04-2013, 04:58 PM   #15
wrxgunr
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Fixed my clutch pedal today. No noise, feels way better under foot too!
I used this as a guide, but I used larger 5/16's grade 8 bolts and trimmed down some fender washers to get more grip.

http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/84-d...olt-style.html

I wasn't about to go to a dealer, or go on a lawyers list... Whole thing took me about an hour by myself, if you had an assistant it maybe quicker. Hope this helps other 08+ guys.
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Old 05-05-2013, 02:12 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrxgunr View Post
Fixed my clutch pedal today. No noise, feels way better under foot too!
I used this as a guide, but I used larger 5/16's grade 8 bolts and trimmed down some fender washers to get more grip.

http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/84-d...olt-style.html

I wasn't about to go to a dealer, or go on a lawyers list... Whole thing took me about an hour by myself, if you had an assistant it maybe quicker. Hope this helps other 08+ guys.
Wow that's awesome! I thought I was going to pull the whole dash off and weld the firewall!
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Old 05-05-2013, 12:12 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by 2010 WRX Limited View Post
Wow that's awesome! I thought I was going to pull the whole dash off and weld the firewall!
I first noticed mine after the first day of Thunderbird... been looking for a fix that didnt involve ripping out the interior since! This works great and really improves the feel of the clutch. I also drilled and bolted a third spot weld to the left of the two for the clutch quadrant to further stiffen the area.
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Old 05-11-2013, 01:12 PM   #18
2010 WRX Limited
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Ya those spot welds are under-engineered for the stress of the clutch assembly and the flexing of the firewall. I think the flex is the real problem. If it's not braced, any fix has the danger of releasing over time. I am attempting the nut and bolt fix today, wish me luck

EDIT: I read the entire thread on WRXforums.com and now see that there are more spot welds under the windshield that are cracked, my car included. This is going to require removal of the whole dash and some form of firewall brace. I am going to contact Subaru Canada on Monday... It looks like a recall is in order. I think it's only a matter of time before more people have the problem and I wonder how wide ranging it will be. All 08+ models could be affected.

Last edited by 2010 WRX Limited; 05-11-2013 at 02:07 PM.
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Old 05-11-2013, 05:44 PM   #19
bender
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firewalls on Subarus have always been weak. even on my 00 RS, the brakes pedal felt soft because of the flex in the firewall, which is why some smart cookie invented the master cylinder brace for the cars.

I told him about the class action lawsuit in the US and he took the car back to Docksteaders. that's where he got his car, and where he got it repaired the first time. I also told him to contact SOC. I wonder if there is anything like the NHTSA here in Canada?
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Old 05-11-2013, 08:12 PM   #20
Studebaker83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2010 WRX Limited View Post
Ya those spot welds are under-engineered for the stress of the clutch assembly and the flexing of the firewall. I think the flex is the real problem. If it's not braced, any fix has the danger of releasing over time. I am attempting the nut and bolt fix today, wish me luck

EDIT: I read the entire thread on WRXforums.com and now see that there are more spot welds under the windshield that are cracked, my car included. This is going to require removal of the whole dash and some form of firewall brace. I am going to contact Subaru Canada on Monday... It looks like a recall is in order. I think it's only a matter of time before more people have the problem and I wonder how wide ranging it will be. All 08+ models could be affected.
Let me know how this goes.

I haven't experience any creaking in my clutch..... (yet?)
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Old 05-11-2013, 09:57 PM   #21
2010 WRX Limited
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Originally Posted by Studebaker83 View Post
Let me know how this goes.

I haven't experience any creaking in my clutch..... (yet?)
Wow you're lucky! for you I've got my whole dash out and it's still hella hard to get the bolts through.
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Old 05-12-2013, 05:35 AM   #22
Rialb22
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Wow! Posted on the thread a few days ago on a side note and here I am in the same boat. Clutch pedal JUST started creaking today! Damn! I haven't taken anything apart yet but we'll see.
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Old 05-13-2013, 12:52 AM   #23
2010 WRX Limited
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It took me the better part of the weekend to do this project but I managed to fix the cracked spot welds. I drilled them out and bolted the areas together.

Here's the car with the dash torn out... it was like seeing a loved one go into surgery: You know everything should be okay but there's always a small chance it could go very wrong!


Here's the area that flexes and breaks apart:


One spot that broke completely:


It was a bitch of a job but I'm glad I didn't pay 10 hours of shop time to let someone else do it.
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Old 05-13-2013, 08:43 AM   #24
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Sick! If this is a common problem, I wonder when mine will act up
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Old 05-13-2013, 11:29 AM   #25
Studebaker83
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I hope Subaru issues a recall as that looks like a big PITA,
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