The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

'98 Outback, bit of a clunck on LHS going over a hole or driveway kerb.

I inspected the ball joint - looked ok to me, the rubber still intact. Maybe stabilizer rubbers ? but they don't look that bad....

what else to look for, I'm rather new at this car;)

will be getting raised king springs soon.....

Check on exhaust muffler. - keep us updated re. suspensions
Cheers
AP

Might not be related to your clunk, but this thread is talking about 99 model liberties that "clunk" during slow tight turns. Looks like no one has yet found the problem.

http://www.mrtrally.com.au/forums/topic ... C_ID=31546

if that makes sense....
checked the exhaust pipe clearances - looks plenty everywhere.
The sound is not so much a metal on metal sound. So I'm suspecting more perhaps some rubber bushing somewhere...

Does it mainly do it only when the car is cold ie when u first drive it after sitting for 12 hours or so?

My liberty's front say bar rubbers make noise that's like a rash/scrape, doesn't sound like rubber or a metal rubbing sound. Had me worried for a while when it first started. Subaru relubrication them or something to stop it but it came back 6 months later. No damage being done so I don't mind the noise.

I wonder if some part of the strut assembly is coming loose. The problem will likely go away once u get the new springs in. If not then I'd be looking at the rubber components closely. Would be worth mentioning it to the shop if you are getting your springs etc fitted for u too, they might be able to see something that could be causing noise if they are looking for it.

My liberty is now 243,500 kms and the suspensions are fine but it has clunking noises and suspensions makes groan noises, but possible that bushes are on its way out. My plans is to do the suspensions and replace all bushes etc.
Cheers
AP

confirmed that the bushes in the stabilizer link bar (the plastic thing) have a quite a bit of play, both front and back LHS, the RHS not near as much - which may explain why the "clump" is sorta LHS sound,
and otherwise generally the shocks are on the way out.
Haven't got the quote yet for this all....

I've seen there are aftermarket alloy stabilizer links available, worth getting?
Also, is the practice to replace the whole link or just the bushes?

I would seriously replace the whole link, If the bushes are worn there is a 90% chance the plastic link is flogged out. There is a big price difference between the two.