Brian, I just bought my 3rd wrx after a brief stint in owning a few BMW's. I cannont express how much I appreciate your videos, they are amazing. Thanks man.
Thanks for the great video. I bought a 2004 STI with low miles that sat under a car cover for a couple of years and the rear struts rode like I had 2x4s for struts. I pulled them out and did this and what a difference! Not hard other than getting the 2 lower 19mm bolts out. Makes a huge difference in handling and ride quality!
Great question! Yes. It has a gas chamber BELOW this one we're packing with grease. This upper one is just to give support cyclically. The lower gas filled chamber provides the vertical movement or stroke dampening.
I have the same rear left clunk sound from the suspension, my mechanic couldn't find the problem, I will show this video to him... mine it's a 2007 STi, thanks for the video!
Great video! One little tip: I'm sure the strut tube is quite thin, but it is still a good habit to turn a tap 1/4 back for every 1/2 turn of progress to prevent shavings from jamming. I have seen too many taps break from people forgetting this and forgetting to lubricate while cutting threads. Keep the great vids coming!
Brian I have to thank you for this tip. I was ready to take the rear shocks and replace the upper mounts. Cause thats what bad upper mounts sound like. I actually did the repair on the car with out removing the struts. Cleaned off the drilled hole and tapped it. Add a grease fitting and all is well. No more nose thanks again.
When you're tapping holes, try turning it about a half turn at a time, then turn it back the other direction a quarter- to a half- turn to break the chip (the bit of metal being cut), then proceed forward a full turn etc, etc. The turning back breaks off the chip formed by turning it forward. Shorter chips = less friction, less heat, better threads, less likely to break off the tap in the hole, and your tap will stay sharper longer.
wingman358 or tap it with a 1/4" impact wrench. I do this all the time with 3/16 all the way up to 1/2 inch taps. in steel up to 1/2 inch thick. make sure you use cutting paste, the thick stuff. no the tap will not break. pull the trigger all the way and stop when the tap starts slowing down. reverse a little then go for it again. add cutting paste every so often. we do this with 18 volt quarter inch impact wrenches. you'll just have to buy the adapter for the tap.
You're welcome. I generally don't do the assembly part because it's redundant and basically the same as tear down. On Google analytics it shows viewers just watch the tear down/fix and drop off.
Great video Broskie. You are one of the most helpful guys out there making easy to follow instructional videos for repair. Thank you so much! I tell everyone I know that needs help with vehicle repair to look you up on UA-cam first!
My shocks do the knock noise, i change the wheel baling thinking was it, today ride i noticed its the shocks and confirm whit your tutorial, i’ll try on mines e back with feedback. Thank you for your video!
Wow man, that was a very cool vid, and I liked the no-nonsense explanations. I don't have an STi, I have a Legacy GT so this doesn't apply to my car, but I often revert to UA-cam for DIYs and How-to's and stuff (in fact, I just did my brakes tonight using a UA-cam vid, as I have an STi brake conversion). Your vid is what the internet is all about. Props!
Getting a one way plane ticket to help my brother drive his Subaru from California to Florida. Never having even sat in one, any tips on things to check on a WRX before making a 3000 mile cross country trip. 3043 miles to be exact. Would appreciate a video if you could. I'm leaving at the end of the month. Other than the obvious oil change, tire pressure, wiper blades, fluids, etc.. Anything in particular to look out for on these cars?
You are the man. Just got some STI KYBs to replace the sealed OEM struts on my 01 WRX and they are just as pokes as my old ones. Wish I had re-greased them before putting them in and getting an alignment. I will definitely be having a go at your re-greasing technique. Two questions though; how deep (long) can your grease circ go before it hits the piston and what grade grease do you use to re-pack it?
Excellent and very helpful video, many thanks! Just bout an '05 WRX Wagon which has the stiff clunk syndrome from the rear. I will be carrying-out this mod shortly.
Great video! I have an 04 STI and have that clunk in the rear. The car only has 40k and is in imaculate shape but it was under a cover for the last 2 yrs before I bought it. At least I know now that it isn't anything serious and I can fix it. Thanks!
Awesome info! Really informative. I wasn't even looking for this, it was just a recommended video. Once I get these parts in the engine bay I'm going to "de-klunk" my suspension. Excellent video. Very appreciated.
Wow, THAT's what causes the mystery clunking??? I've had this on my stock struts, KYB GR2's and now my brand new coilovers. Not sure I'll be able to do this on the coilovers but definitely good to know.
I love it and I'll be doing it shortly on mine, but my only concern is how do you get the old grease out the second time you do it? Seems like it'd have to pop the seal, or are you cleaning it out entirely of old grease and just using the nipple and grease gun to pack it super tight with grease?
Are all subaru suspensions built like this? I have a cluck on my 2009 subaru impreza 2.5i hatch. I have check the bushings, and ball joints. I though it would have been my slightly bent rim but its a very small flat spot. I might have to check this out on my struts.
great job I think my rear just started doing this in my 02. :( i assume you need an alignment after this? or can I mark it and save from having to do that? I just did one.
cheers mate saved me some dosh,really appresiate all your stuff.been ripped thousands from garages.scooby clinic in chesure nicked my stuff n billed me 4 grand or loose car.ten grand bill so i do it myself now.warning to others in uk.thanx again
Hi, so originally this is prevented by the foam layers inside? would it not be possible to add new foam inserts maybe?And also so I take from what you mention that the gas shock itself stays untouched and by adding the grease you do not interfere with their damping rates?And also do you just keep on filling with grease until you have a return of grease by the grease nipple?
I think I might be starting to get that clunk in my 06 sti and this video is helpful just in case indeed to put the zerks in to cure the noise. Do you remember if you cleaned out all the old grease and what kind of grease you used to pack it with?
hey great video i had both struts replaced by the dealer i bought the car from, even the new ones began to clunk i followed the steps in your video and everything worked out great after i filled them with grease and drove the car for about two days i heard the clunk slightly again. i pumped more grease into the grease fitting and it came out the o-ring where the piston is. did i damage the o-ring?
Hi, awesome vid! Ive been told my struts in my 06 wrx wagon need replacing but they seem to be fine except for that they "clunk" and sometimes "drop" when driving slowly and driving over a small bump in the road. How would I be able to tell if my struts do need to be replaced or if I could just insert a grease tap? Thank you.
Thanks so much for making this video man. I needed a really good step by step to how to get to the rear struts, and this was the perfect video for the job. Also, cool to learn that caster can cause that knocking sound :)
@Subypowa Something thick is best. I used synthetic Marine grade grease and it was a little too thin in that it was thinner than the factory stuff and only lasted 8 months before it had to be greased again. Yes it's easy and only five seconds to fix, but thicker grease would be better.
@gn3ricc They have a design flaw. There's play where there shouldn't be. The grease creates hydraulic pressure like the track tensioner on a mini-excavator.
My WRX wagon used to make the same clunking sound. I never thought about doing this because the expensive insurance on that car was more annoying that the constant clunking. Question: Can you reach the grease zerk with the tire on?
Any recommendations on how to do this with coilovers? I'm guessing you'd have to maybe use a hex plug instead of a grease fitting, but not sure if that'd weaken the threads in that area. Also, how often do you find that you have to regrease it? Does the old grease squirt out from somewhere?
hey Brian . love your vids. quick ? Anyone know if this can be done with out taking the strut off or apart? is it too tight or is it so you dont damage the strut when drilling? thanks
Hey Brian, is a repair manual from Subaru any good? I want to learn how to fix my own car and I want a good book to start with. I know that the book from Subaru are really expensive, which I don't mind saving up for. Any advice would be appreciated Thank you..
@ma7mody Yes, but fair warning if you drill to deep whatsoever you'll ding the shaft and have to replace the strut. I've done a few, but I still tear them down. I rock climb, skydive, and drive a bullet bike.
I too have a clunk from both sides in the rear of my 13 wrx hatch at low speed over minor bumps. Its been driving me crazy trying to pin down what is was coming from. Would subaru cover this under warranty? im under 30k miles on it.
i had same problem with my 53 scooby,rear passenger side.compress spring,take nut off n put a large washer on n put nut back.common fault n most buy anothershock when its just top nut needs tightening atouch but if no threds left do as ive just said.took me a couple off stripdowns to realize but good fix.hope it helps
Just to add a little to this. It's recommended to take out as much of the old grease as possible. The grease from the factory isn't very good quality and it turns into a wax rather than a grease. So even when the piston inside goes up and down, when the "Wax" gives way from a rested position, it will cause this clunk as well. This car in this video is my car, and it still had some clunking (Not as bad as before), So I ended up getting Coilovers about 10k miles after this was done.
briansmobile1, your video made replacing rear struts on my 2002 wrx much easier Thank you! For others, my 2002 stock struts are not the inverted style shown in the video. All the tips to get the seat out and the struts apart (nut on top of strut only), priceless. One of my struts was totally shot! Had to O/A torch the bottom strut mounting nuts to break them free. One of my struts had zero damping. I replaced the 73k mi. stock struts with KYB GR-2 struts from rockauto.com (part 334306 & 334307).
great vid i always wondered if there was a fix for the knocking problem , i to have to replace my rear shocks from a sti hawkeye was gonna get coilovers but dont want to harsh a ride so think i`ll try this first cheers brian.
Great video . Re theupgrade247 comment below me - does this mean the standard WRX (Early MY06 Sedan Australian spec 2.5T) strut cannot be stripped and repacked with grease ?
i just did a full sti swap on my 04 wrx, and installed that very same suspension and the rear is clunking a bit, just one question how much grease did you put roughly in each shock?
Probably the best video you could post for subaru owners! Thank you!
I was going mad trying to figure out wtf was knocking on my shocks. Thanks man!
Brian, I just bought my 3rd wrx after a brief stint in owning a few BMW's. I cannont express how much I appreciate your videos, they are amazing.
Thanks man.
You're welcome buddy! More to come.
Thanks for the great video. I bought a 2004 STI with low miles that sat under a car cover for a couple of years and the rear struts rode like I had 2x4s for struts. I pulled them out and did this and what a difference! Not hard other than getting the 2 lower 19mm bolts out. Makes a huge difference in handling and ride quality!
Mark Barboza a q ? After you done this? Did the car bounce different or bounce more and became annoying ?!
2024 and your video has helped my neglected 2007 STI to be clunk free. Thank you sir and top notch tip for the zerk fitting 👍
Great question! Yes. It has a gas chamber BELOW this one we're packing with grease. This upper one is just to give support cyclically. The lower gas filled chamber provides the vertical movement or stroke dampening.
Its been 5 months so far and the clunk still gone. Thanks once again my friend.
I have the same rear left clunk sound from the suspension, my mechanic couldn't find the problem, I will show this video to him... mine it's a 2007 STi, thanks for the video!
My daughter did it. It's her favorite thing in the world to do.
Great video! One little tip: I'm sure the strut tube is quite thin, but it is still a good habit to turn a tap 1/4 back for every 1/2 turn of progress to prevent shavings from jamming. I have seen too many taps break from people forgetting this and forgetting to lubricate while cutting threads. Keep the great vids coming!
Brian I have to thank you for this tip. I was ready to take the rear shocks and replace the upper mounts. Cause thats what bad upper mounts sound like. I actually did the repair on the car with out removing the struts. Cleaned off the drilled hole and tapped it. Add a grease fitting and all is well. No more nose thanks again.
When you're tapping holes, try turning it about a half turn at a time, then turn it back the other direction a quarter- to a half- turn to break the chip (the bit of metal being cut), then proceed forward a full turn etc, etc. The turning back breaks off the chip formed by turning it forward. Shorter chips = less friction, less heat, better threads, less likely to break off the tap in the hole, and your tap will stay sharper longer.
wingman358
or tap it with a 1/4" impact wrench. I do this all the time with 3/16 all the way up to 1/2 inch taps. in steel up to 1/2 inch thick. make sure you use cutting paste, the thick stuff. no the tap will not break. pull the trigger all the way and stop when the tap starts slowing down. reverse a little then go for it again. add cutting paste every so often. we do this with 18 volt quarter inch impact wrenches. you'll just have to buy the adapter for the tap.
Thanks for taking the time to make your videos. This is the third time you've saved me big $$ to keep my baby running smooth!!!
You're welcome. I generally don't do the assembly part because it's redundant and basically the same as tear down. On Google analytics it shows viewers just watch the tear down/fix and drop off.
Great video Broskie. You are one of the most helpful guys out there making easy to follow instructional videos for repair. Thank you so much! I tell everyone I know that needs help with vehicle repair to look you up on UA-cam first!
There's a tab or an allen key hole in the top of the shaft so you can brace the shaft through the center of a box end wrench.
I have an 07 wrx and this is exactly what is happening to my left rear. This clip was very helpful and will be doing this, this weekend! Thank you!
My shocks do the knock noise, i change the wheel baling thinking was it, today ride i noticed its the shocks and confirm whit your tutorial, i’ll try on mines e back with feedback.
Thank you for your video!
Wow man, that was a very cool vid, and I liked the no-nonsense explanations.
I don't have an STi, I have a Legacy GT so this doesn't apply to my car, but I often revert to UA-cam for DIYs and How-to's and stuff (in fact, I just did my brakes tonight using a UA-cam vid, as I have an STi brake conversion).
Your vid is what the internet is all about.
Props!
@acspidey Thanks- hope it goes great for you. That car is way to nice and fun to be clunking eigh?
Great video, very thorough and not redundant in the commentary. Good work!
dukeofnyd1 Thanks!
Dude, this was a GREAT video. Good level of explanation of what you're doing and talking through your solution. Thumbs up!
Getting a one way plane ticket to help my brother drive his Subaru from California to Florida. Never having even sat in one, any tips on things to check on a WRX before making a 3000 mile cross country trip. 3043 miles to be exact. Would appreciate a video if you could. I'm leaving at the end of the month. Other than the obvious oil change, tire pressure, wiper blades, fluids, etc.. Anything in particular to look out for on these cars?
***** Same as any other car- check the rubber. Timing belt, serpentine belts, hoses, tires, wipers, seals, etc.
You are the man. Just got some STI KYBs to replace the sealed OEM struts on my 01 WRX and they are just as pokes as my old ones. Wish I had re-greased them before putting them in and getting an alignment. I will definitely be having a go at your re-greasing technique. Two questions though; how deep (long) can your grease circ go before it hits the piston and what grade grease do you use to re-pack it?
Excellent and very helpful video, many thanks! Just bout an '05 WRX Wagon which has the stiff clunk syndrome from the rear. I will be carrying-out this mod shortly.
Great video! I have an 04 STI and have that clunk in the rear. The car only has 40k and is in imaculate shape but it was under a cover for the last 2 yrs before I bought it. At least I know now that it isn't anything serious and I can fix it. Thanks!
absolutely awesome. You've saved me (and I'm sure many others) a ton of money. Thank you
Awesome info! Really informative. I wasn't even looking for this, it was just a recommended video. Once I get these parts in the engine bay I'm going to "de-klunk" my suspension. Excellent video. Very appreciated.
No. There's a dead space gap between the outer tube and the inner workings. Just make sure you put the nipple in the right spot (not too low).
Excellent DIY. I was wondering if you have any recommendations for the type of grease to use.
Wow, THAT's what causes the mystery clunking??? I've had this on my stock struts, KYB GR2's and now my brand new coilovers. Not sure I'll be able to do this on the coilovers but definitely good to know.
I love it and I'll be doing it shortly on mine, but my only concern is how do you get the old grease out the second time you do it? Seems like it'd have to pop the seal, or are you cleaning it out entirely of old grease and just using the nipple and grease gun to pack it super tight with grease?
Thank you, for the video. One of the long list of modifications to do to my cars.
Are all subaru suspensions built like this? I have a cluck on my 2009 subaru impreza 2.5i hatch. I have check the bushings, and ball joints. I though it would have been my slightly bent rim but its a very small flat spot. I might have to check this out on my struts.
You are an awesome mechanic! one handed and all. Thanks man big help.
Had the same prob over in the uk. Thanks man done this today and fixed my problems
does the clunking slowly ruin the struts? or is it just an annoyance? just curious if this is an issue i should tackle right away. thanks for the vid!
great job I think my rear just started doing this in my 02. :(
i assume you need an alignment after this?
or can I mark it and save from having to do that?
I just did one.
Thanks! Just finished with the zerks on me back two struts. Bout to go back to stock too. Do people also install zerks on the front struts?
man, awesome video. This seems to be a common problem on the right rear. My 06 sti had major clunk with only 70k miles on it. Wish I saw this video
Travis W Thanks Travis!
Great video! I follow these instructions yesterday on my 07 STI and it was a very easy repair. Thanks!
cheers mate saved me some dosh,really appresiate all your stuff.been ripped thousands from garages.scooby clinic in chesure nicked my stuff n billed me 4 grand or loose car.ten grand bill so i do it myself now.warning to others in uk.thanx again
Hi, so originally this is prevented by the foam layers inside? would it not be possible to add new foam inserts maybe?And also so I take from what you mention that the gas shock itself stays untouched and by adding the grease you do not interfere with their damping rates?And also do you just keep on filling with grease until you have a return of grease by the grease nipple?
I think I might be starting to get that clunk in my 06 sti and this video is helpful just in case indeed to put the zerks in to cure the noise.
Do you remember if you cleaned out all the old grease and what kind of grease you used to pack it with?
This video was very helpful, but do u know if that fix will work on coilovers. I have KWs and they are doing the same thing.
hey great video
i had both struts replaced by the dealer i bought the car from, even the new ones began to clunk
i followed the steps in your video and everything worked out great
after i filled them with grease and drove the car for about two days i heard the clunk slightly again. i pumped more grease into the grease fitting and it came out the o-ring where the piston is. did i damage the o-ring?
Hi, awesome vid! Ive been told my struts in my 06 wrx wagon need replacing but they seem to be fine except for that they "clunk" and sometimes "drop" when driving slowly and driving over a small bump in the road. How would I be able to tell if my struts do need to be replaced or if I could just insert a grease tap? Thank you.
You're welcome- I love being of service to those who appreciate it!
@MultiSlee Yep you nailed it! That is a bad strut if it's leaking. Replace it, and maybe do this as a preventative method.
This is exactly what my 03 wrx is doing... TY you help so much!
Thanks so much for making this video man. I needed a really good step by step to how to get to the rear struts, and this was the perfect video for the job. Also, cool to learn that caster can cause that knocking sound :)
Thank you! I just bought an '05 WRX and the noise was terrible.
@Subypowa Something thick is best. I used synthetic Marine grade grease and it was a little too thin in that it was thinner than the factory stuff and only lasted 8 months before it had to be greased again. Yes it's easy and only five seconds to fix, but thicker grease would be better.
Hy great video btw what type of grease should I be putting in, anything special?
Great video. Might look into a GoPro with a head mount so you have both hands available for work and/or lights.
@gn3ricc They have a design flaw. There's play where there shouldn't be. The grease creates hydraulic pressure like the track tensioner on a mini-excavator.
Just have this problem on my jdm type r, thanks a lot.
My WRX wagon used to make the same clunking sound. I never thought about doing this because the expensive insurance on that car was more annoying that the constant clunking. Question: Can you reach the grease zerk with the tire on?
Hi what type off grease do you use please?
Thx for the info 👌
@ScaredNoobGoat Hey I appreciate that. Thanks. I haven't heard about doing a forester/Impreza strut swap. Tell me more. What's the idea behind that?
Any recommendations on how to do this with coilovers? I'm guessing you'd have to maybe use a hex plug instead of a grease fitting, but not sure if that'd weaken the threads in that area.
Also, how often do you find that you have to regrease it? Does the old grease squirt out from somewhere?
@andrewk157 I haven't done it on the KW's. I'd be curious to know how it goes for you if you try it.
very good video how can i tell a clunk strut....and a bad strut cause mine is leaking oil so that mean i have to replace the whole strut right?
im gng to attemp this today, how much grease doi add on each side ? 3 oz?
What would be your best tips for buying a car?
hey Brian . love your vids. quick ? Anyone know if this can be done with out taking the strut off or apart? is it too tight or is it so you dont damage the strut when drilling?
thanks
nice vid mate! after 3 years I cant take the clunking anymore!! lol thanks!
@schister66 You're welcome. Another good thing to do is two oil trap cans. I just video'd that project today. I'll be posting it in the next week.
Hey Brian, is a repair manual from Subaru any good? I want to learn how to fix my own car and I want a good book to start with. I know that the book from Subaru are really expensive, which I don't mind saving up for. Any advice would be appreciated Thank you..
did you have any troubles with metal shavings getting into the strut while drilling/tapping?
My 2005 sti started knocking on right rear hopefully just needs grease.... is this the most common problem?
Far as I know.
@ma7mody Yes, but fair warning if you drill to deep whatsoever you'll ding the shaft and have to replace the strut. I've done a few, but I still tear them down. I rock climb, skydive, and drive a bullet bike.
I too have a clunk from both sides in the rear of my 13 wrx hatch at low speed over minor bumps. Its been driving me crazy trying to pin down what is was coming from.
Would subaru cover this under warranty? im under 30k miles on it.
Does this work on non STi struts? Really what I mean is are the seals in the same spot. Thanks
You can get the grease zerk flushed to the hex. Get the thickest grease you can find. Sometimes this means cheaper. ; )
Well, now I know what that damn clunking is... Nice DIY! Adding this to my list of things to fix...
i had same problem with my 53 scooby,rear passenger side.compress spring,take nut off n put a large washer on n put nut back.common fault n most buy anothershock when its just top nut needs tightening atouch but if no threds left do as ive just said.took me a couple off stripdowns to realize but good fix.hope it helps
Just to add a little to this. It's recommended to take out as much of the old grease as possible. The grease from the factory isn't very good quality and it turns into a wax rather than a grease. So even when the piston inside goes up and down, when the "Wax" gives way from a rested position, it will cause this clunk as well.
This car in this video is my car, and it still had some clunking (Not as bad as before), So I ended up getting Coilovers about 10k miles after this was done.
@rpc2112 You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it.
briansmobile1, your video made replacing rear struts on my 2002 wrx much easier Thank you! For others, my 2002 stock struts are not the inverted style shown in the video. All the tips to get the seat out and the struts apart (nut on top of strut only), priceless. One of my struts was totally shot! Had to O/A torch the bottom strut mounting nuts to break them free. One of my struts had zero damping. I replaced the 73k mi. stock struts with KYB GR-2 struts from rockauto.com (part 334306 & 334307).
@Subypowa You're welcome. Good luck friend!
Hi I think mine are kyb struts can I do it to them as I have that clunking noise, and would prefer to not fork out for new ones :) cheers
Of course they're good.
great vid i always wondered if there was a fix for the knocking problem , i to have to replace my rear shocks from a sti hawkeye was gonna get coilovers but dont want to harsh a ride so think i`ll try this first cheers brian.
Hey Brian I have been contemplating doing this, I might takle this next weekend, great job filmimg
Great video . Re theupgrade247 comment below me - does this mean the standard WRX (Early MY06 Sedan Australian spec 2.5T) strut cannot be stripped and repacked with grease ?
I don't know- have it looked at to eliminate sway bar components and control arm bushings etc. first.
Great video - Thanks. I think this is applicable to some struts used in the Forester too.
Welcome!
REALLY helpful video!! Thank you!!
You're so welcome!
once this is finished, does one need to have a wheel alignment done to the car?
Very informative . Well done video.
Thank you!
Caster is correct. Angling the bottom of the suspension forward helps stabilize the rear wheel and reduces stress on suspension linkages.
@Flaheat Yes, actually you can.
@gn3ricc Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
i just did a full sti swap on my 04 wrx, and installed that very same suspension and the rear is clunking a bit, just one question how much grease did you put roughly in each shock?
Very informational. Thanks for taking the time to show us.
Your channel is awsome, thanks!!!
Greetings from Ukraine.
Thanks for the videos man. This one in particular has helped me a ton.
You're welcome good sir