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Old 10-17-2001, 05:21 PM   #1
TheWRX
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Default WRX deceleration noise update

I just had a phone conversation about the WRX deceleration noise (grinding when lifting off the throttle, it has been discussed extensively on the boards) with a service advisor at my dealer. The latest word is that Subaru is aware that this is a common problem, and is working on finding a solution. Until they get instructions from SOA on how to fix it, they told me to basically just deal with it. They say that it's not a safety issue, and that there was no need to worry that the defect would result in other parts getting damaged.

He didn't seem comfortable talking about possible causes, but he indicated that they managed to fix the noise on another car earlier, after many attempts. I mentioned the post of the guy (variac) saying:

Quote:
What they ended up doing was replacing the clutch disc, pressure plate, flywheel and bolts. I just picked the car up today, and so far so good... no longer has the noise. The clutch parts they put in were somewhat redesigned, ..
He wasn't very clear in his response, but my understanding was that they also replaced the clutch disc, and possibly other parts. When I tried to pin him down on this being the likely cause, he said that they couldn't be sure that the noise wouldn't come back.

So my current guess is that we can hope for redesigned clutch parts that will solve the problem. I hope it won't take too long... The service advisor told me that he would be mentioning the issue to the local service rep each time he sees him.
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Old 10-23-2001, 10:07 PM   #2
fullvision
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Default

thanks for the info, I just realize that I have this problem too when using 3rd gear braking downhill at rev about 3500rpm... I was playing with it a little bit since the road is long, it would gone if you put some gas, but if you totally let go of the gas, then the sound will just stay there until you are done going downhill...
I guess I don't have to take the trouble to go to my dealer then if they don't know how to fix it.
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Old 10-23-2001, 11:56 PM   #3
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Default Woa....

I have a similar sound and would like it to be taken care of, especially before I consider any serious mods. I thought it was the wastegate, but who knows? Could you give a bit more description, when does it happen and what does it sound like? Please keep us informed.

Kevin
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Old 10-24-2001, 01:56 AM   #4
shogunate83
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Smile

thanks for the update man
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Old 10-24-2001, 04:57 AM   #5
WRX Pilot
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Thumbs down That noise sucks!

My WRX has had it from day 1 and it still does. I can't wait till they have a recall on this to get it fixed once and for all. I guess we have to live with it until then or buy automatics!
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Old 10-24-2001, 08:42 AM   #6
duckboy
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Default rear diff noise

have you folks seen the score marks on this other fellow's rear diff housing? his car seems to be making the same noises as mine, under the same conditions, but is a NA engined car. this is part of the problem as well...

http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthr...4&goto=newpost

this can't be good...

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Old 10-24-2001, 09:28 AM   #7
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Yea, mine sounds like that too. Not really grinding, but when I come off the accelerator and coast in gear, it doesn't sound as smooth as my jeep wrangler did. Just figured it was the nature of the beast.

-jb
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Old 10-24-2001, 10:28 AM   #8
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My dealer said SOA told him it was a drivetrain alignment problem. Their "fix" was to pump up the front tires by 4 PSI and let out 4 PSI from the back. The noise went away and the drivetrain felt much smoother, but I didn't want to drive with an 8 PSI difference front/back so I didn't leave it that way.
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Old 10-24-2001, 11:45 AM   #9
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Default ???

what?! you gotta be kidding?!!!! the noise actually went away with that kind of tire pressure delta??? i can't see how altering the tire pressure would alter the suspension & drivetrain alignment. i could see how it affects the chassis attitude, but, not the drivetrain. in general, the car should NOT be driven with that kind of tire pressure difference. that can't be safe.

i guess this IS just the nature of the beast or there's too much compliance in the drivetrain supports that allow the driveshaft to deflect relative to the rear diff upon deceleration.

who knows. and i don't think the dealership techs have the know how to figure this one out...

does anyone have a contact email address for tech support for SOA?

duckboy
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Old 10-24-2001, 01:29 PM   #10
Porter
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Don't get your panties in a bunch.

Running tire pressure discrepancies of 8-10 psi front/rear is not the end of the world. Actually, that may be about right to have the same transient volume in the tire.

Don't forget that the engine is over the front wheels, so to make the tires inflated to the same size, you'll need more air pressure in the front.

Try 42/38. Personally I think the RE92s feel best at 44f/40r but that's just me.


BTW most Bridgestones have a higher max pressure than the RE92s... all the other RE9xx series have a 44psi max pressure, and the RE92s feel best around there, so perhaps the 35psi max printed on the tire is from the same OEM school of thought as the low pressures in the Ford Explorer fiasco.

I can say without a doubt that RE92s perform and wear best at 42-44 psi. They're probably safe up to about 50psi, maybe more.


........don't believe the hype!

-Porter
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Old 10-24-2001, 09:20 PM   #11
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Default ...

deleted text.

duckboy

Last edited by duckboy; 10-25-2001 at 01:10 AM.
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Old 10-24-2001, 10:39 PM   #12
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[edit] deleted

Last edited by Porter; 10-25-2001 at 05:33 PM.
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Old 10-24-2001, 10:48 PM   #13
Aspen_2.5RS
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Post

I'm going to have to agree with Porter on that one. Especially after this past weekend while running 40 psi all around on stock RE92's.........I definately wasn't sliding around like I was on glass.

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Old 10-25-2001, 12:07 AM   #14
Red Rocket
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Angry Stop highjacking this thread!

I personally think my noise is from turbulence from that flat plate on the downpipe, making the the wastegate chatter, but we'll see what they figure out.

Kevin

Last edited by Red Rocket; 10-30-2001 at 01:19 PM.
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Old 10-25-2001, 01:09 AM   #15
duckboy
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Default ok, ok, ok...

red rocket.

good point and sorry for taking up this thread space with this nonsense bickering.

the bulk of my noise seems to be coming from both the tranny area and the rear diff. again, the only reason why i'm concerned with the rear diff noise is because i saw the pic that was posted of the scored rear diff housing.

as stated by PORTER, this groaning sound could be attributed to the difference in rolling tire diameters (a function of tire air pressures). btw, point well taken PORTER.

one of the previous posted comments stated that the dealer said that the noise was "a drivetrain alignment problem". i took "alignment problem" as meaning cocked prop shaft or something to that nature. this is what threw me from understanding how/why the dealer felt adjusting the tire pressure to an 8 psi delta would help. now i understand what porter was referring to.

duckboy

Last edited by duckboy; 10-25-2001 at 11:34 PM.
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Old 10-25-2001, 03:59 AM   #16
WRX Pilot
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Cool OK Boys.......

Now that we are all back on the same page and our tire pressure is ok , lets keep this thread up (sticky please) and hope that SOA get's on top of this and gets it fixed. It can't be a good thing whatever it is.
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Old 10-25-2001, 11:13 AM   #17
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Default

Just to add fuel to this fire, BAD WRX (which was built in June, and which I got out of my life at 2,700 miles) had this noise problem in a big way from day one. My new WRX (built in August), at 400 miles, does not.

Either this time I got lucky, or Subaru has made a running change in the drivetrain components.
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Old 10-25-2001, 03:00 PM   #18
TheWRX
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Mine started at 600 miles, so don't bet your farm that WRX v.2 won't have the problem!

One interesting point that I think I mentioned in another thread: I had a British guy riding in my car recently. He owns a '94 WRX (imported from Japan), and I'm sure he knows plenty of people owning WRXes for much longer than it has been sold here. He said that he has never heard a noise like this one, and didn't remember anything like it being mentioned on scoobynet. This indicates that the problem is specific to the cars produced for the US.
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Old 10-25-2001, 06:16 PM   #19
fullvision
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I thought all impreza are all assembled in Japan... and ship to US as a whole, so how could there be differences to any other JDM drivetrain or components that doesn't match.... or is Subaru having degraded parts for US version?
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Old 10-26-2001, 01:53 AM   #20
duckboy
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Default rear diff noise...

when i asked Mike Shields about my rear diff noise, here's an explanation from his perspective. he mentioned i could post this for others to view. enjoy...

duckboy


"The diff noise in the Subaru is quite common, as it was in my Datsun 510, which used the same differential. The noise is going to be especially noticeable with the bushing kit installed. The noise is mostly due to drive train ringing (rapid acceleration and deceleration of the drive shafts on over run) due to the relatively low inertia of the main drive shaft and drive axles. Other AWD manufactures will use more massive drive shafts, rubber couplings and other devices to eliminate this issue. Subaru engineering has opted to keep the inertia of the drive train low, which is one of the many reasons I drive an Impreza. This noise is generated at the ring and pinion (s) due to a designed amount of back lash between the ring and pinion. Miss the setup a couple of thousands of an inch and it can growl. My diff has sounded like it is falling out of the car for the past 100,000 miles and it had already 50,000 on it when I installed it. The other 4.11 WRX diff I have has 17,000 miles on it and I took it out because it was even noisier! I am sort of resolved to go into that diff to set it up a bit tighter in the hope it will get quieter."

"This brings up the second issue, which is the tolerance of the ring and pinion setup, which should never be too tight, rather a certain pattern is desired. This means there is a specific amount of free play between the ring and the pinion, a known backlash specification. I understand that there have been replacement differentials installed with an existing repair/exchange program by Subaru of America for those few units that are excessively noisy. For the most part, even though the unit is noisy it will run its normal life. Subaru just takes these units in and goes through the shim set up on the side bearings of the ring gear and the fore/aft placement of the pinion and then puts them on the shelf for exchange with dealers that have found unusually noisy units. There are also a pair of mass damper hockey puck type units that have been bolted to the "T" rear diff cross member (the forward one) towards the outer ends on the 98-01 RS and standard cars, that I have noticed is missing from the WRX. This was used as an attempt to dampen the noise from the diff as well. Many cars have used these types of mass damper for exhaust and sub frame noise and vibration damping over time."

"Since we are not the engineers, I have only speculated about this condition from my general knowledge of these differentials, having used them in my Datsun 510 and now my 93 Impreza for over 400,000 total miles. They will make noise a bit, especially if the STI hard bushing kit used, some units make a lot of noise and should be evaluated by the dealer if excessive."

Last edited by duckboy; 10-26-2001 at 02:18 AM.
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Old 10-26-2001, 01:56 AM   #21
ANZAC_1915
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Fine, except the noise in my car is coming from the FRONT ring and pinion (or gearbox, hard to tell).

So, my NEW WRX (ahem) also has this noise, at 16 miles.

What does that tell you?

My RS did not have this noise.

One final thought: it might be the 1.1:1 reduction gear at the back of the box, overdrive gears like that sometimes make a noise.

Glenn
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Old 10-26-2001, 11:01 PM   #22
datdudedennis
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my car makes the same damn noise, well imnot sure if its the same but it makes this unhealthy noise when i take my foot off the gas at low gears. i think subaru might have a problem with their gearbox because i also hear about a weak first gear.

dennis
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Old 10-28-2001, 03:36 AM   #23
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Default Ear Ache.

So has anyone had this noise fixed yet under warranty? I know that I am not about to accept this as "normal". It may not be hurting the car any but it sure is hurting my ears! I am dealing with Renick Subaru and they are willing to do whatever it takes to fix the problem but they just can't pin it down as to what it is.
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Old 10-28-2001, 04:43 AM   #24
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Guys try this I was playing with my engine this weekend on some cool roads. When you get the noice push up on your gear stick. I have a feeling the actual problem maybe a linkage noice rather than anything else. Which is a si of relife from me.
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Old 10-29-2001, 01:29 PM   #25
WRX Pilot
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Default That would be very cool.....

if that was what the problem is! Someone else try this and see if it works, I can't right now, the REX is in the shop , and post up the results.
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