Potential design flaw with factory rear suspension? (WATER in boot area)
 

OK, so we installed coilovers today, and the garage noticed that the rear shock top on both sides was wet..

The only explanation is it is coming in from UNDER the car, in the wheel well.

It has been raining here, but not flash flood storming or anything crazy.

What I am concerned about is the implications of even small amounts of water finding their way into the boot, it could lead to mould, humidity in the car, weird smells, damage to amplifiers or other such things that dont like humid areas.

Now when I say water, we arent talking about pools of water in the boot, but there was a very noticeable amount on the strut top, which bolts in from inside the car/boot space. Just above the strut top appears to be a hole around 1.5 inches in diameter that is perfect for adjustable strut dampers (no doubt that is what it's for).. But considering the factory strut somehow allows water to get into this hole, it could potentially vapourise inside the car on a hot day, or be the cause of nasty smells if you end up driving over filthy water.

Maybe it's not a big deal, but to me it seems like a pretty average design flaw, whereby they could have simply put a grommet/stopper in there, or a splash guard to stop water collecting up in there.

Here is a picture of the strut top, with water on it (most of the water had run off at this point, but you can actually see a bubble along the top edge here):

http://www.streetfx.com.au/galleries...2/watertop.jpg

It is also important to note that this wetness was only after 20km of driving on damp roads, it wasnt pouring rain or driving through huge puddles.

Here is a pic of the area where this water could potentially get itself into the cabin.

http://www.streetfx.com.au/galleries...struttop2a.jpg

http://www.streetfx.com.au/galleries...struttop1a.jpg


I know I am being picky here, and maybe it's no big deal, but it seems a little strange that there is an area where a pool of water can collect up and end up inside the car in some way (obviously its not going to splash in, but I guess it just seems cheap?

Obviously for people such as myself who has already changed out the factory struts, I'll have a hole there anyway for the adjuster knob, but I am surprised there's no rubber hat on there from factory (like all the plugs in the firewall etc)? Or is my car missing a part?

Thoughts?

could this be the cause of Hanakuso's gnats in the trunk problem?

I would take this to scion/subaru and make sure they are aware.

Thanks for linking me to this thread. I'll check it out tonight!!

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to go get myself a couple $0.25 body plugs tonight. :thumbup:

So to be clear: water from the wheel well is/could be making its way into the cabin through that hole above the strut tops?

You are not being picky and it IS a big deal.
Toyota is not known for such oversights and I am sure they will take care of it quickly and should thank you for pointing it out to them.

Any pics of how it looks stock?

Sadly this car is not made at toyota. This is the sort of shit (and the chirping and all those other little niggles) that happens when you let inferior manufacturers build your cars for you.

Are you sure the plugs under the car were installed during pdi? Otherwise water will get up in the subframe.

Lol this statement. Team 86 approved everything and it was headed up by a Toyota engineer and comprised of both companies employees. The chirping is a design issue. The high pressure high pressure fuel pump isn't a Subaru parts bin part.

:laughabove: :rolleyes:

Good question. I was thinking the same thing.

:mad0260:

Yeah, brz/frs is better than frs/brz rivalries is bound to happen later on. Its already pretty obvious even now.

Not only can this be a problem for mold, but rust could be a problem as well.. not to mention and god forbid, mosquitoes.

They didn't do it on mine. I assume. It's common.

Are you sure there isn't a tiny drain hole in there somewhere? Of course, it could be a small design flaw, but I would think that a strut top has a hole somewhere near it that would allow any liquid to drain out. No?

Is yours the same? I am just wondering if someone else can check they too have a hole there?

Maybe!!:thumbsup:

That's weird, shouldn't there be a rubber grommet or something to seal it?! It's definitely an issue and I would bring it in.

Tail light condensation? Design flaw or manufacturing flaw?

Well it does have the common Subaru specific issues that Spacewilly mentioned before so... :iono:

Unintended acceleration? Subarus fault?

Every manufacturer, especially on first year models has issues. Your point about the chirping just shows that you are painting a generality about this cars issues that isnt true.

I caught that they didnt do it the day after I bought the car and fixed it. In theory though the described symptoms in the OP could be explained by this.

There are just two plastic plugs near the rear of the car that need to be installed during PDI or moisture can get into the rear subframe.

Why aren't they installed by the factory?

^^ This..

and how did you manage to notice it the day after you got the car? Only reason we noticed it was when removing the stock suspension to fit coilovers.

Mark

Good question but they don't. It has something to do with how the car is transported. They are usually sitting in your glove compartment from the factory. And putting them on is part of the pdi doc.

Because those holes are used to transport the car to the dealer.

Hey buddy. The reason I noticed it was because other people who were some of the first to take delivery had the same issue. So I looked under my car in May and saw they were not installed. If you actually care about the truth you cAn look at my posts from then and see that I mentioned this then

But I guess you can assume its a Subaru conspiracy.

So, just so everyone that reads this knows..there should be a rubber plug where that hole is, correct?

This was informative. Thanks for the heads up. My dealership did not put the rubber pieces in during PDI. I just put it in now. And its been raining here in Atlanta and I've put 4500 miles on the car already. Hopefully no rust is present!

Things like this are missed when the PDI people don't read all off the documents of what is required and management is swooping like a hawk... is it done yet... is it done yet... is it done yet... I have a customer waiting so hurry the hell up...

Your username is worthy of an internet :bellyroll:

ok so those rubber pieces in the bottom will keep water out of that area but the hole in the trunk above the strut is ok? right?

For some reason dealers seem to be too incompetent to do this. I sincerely hope that this is the reason the OP has the issues that he has mentioned. I really wouldn't worry about rust on you car from this though.

What this reminds me of is the 240SX notorious strut tower rust issue. I see this issue leading to premature rusting.

Can we get a picture of what it's supposed to look like?

You will need to find someone with a lift or jacks, but it should be doable. The holes are on the side of the vehicle, by where you would look for the rear jack points. IIRC they about a foot or two from the front of the rear tire. They are obvious if you are looking for them. The plugs are about 4" long and 2" wide.

X10000. Yeah, pics from a dealer or someone who found the plugs in their trunk or glovebox would be nice.

What I want to know is, are there plugs for the hole that the OP posted.

we are talking about two different holes here(thats what she said)