clunk sound while backing out of my drive way
 

So apparently this only happens when i back out of my drive way, it could be my tires but i'm not sure.

So basically i let the car warm up, then i put it in reverse and start pulling out. and as i turn my steering wheel, i sometimes would hear a clunk(about 70% of the time). I have stock wheels and tires and car has not been lowered. anyone else has experienced this before?

Thanks guys!

Problem Solved:

As to my expectation, it was the spring rotating digging into the top mount. this only happens when i'm in reverse because the spring is rotating in the opposite direction, thus making the poping noise. Subaru dealer has put a rubber gasket between the spring and the top mount to see if the problem goes away. after testing for an entire weekend, there seem to be no more noise coming from the front of the vehicle when i put her into reverse and turning.

Subaru dealer has agreed to change the entire strut/spring assembly if the gasket does fix the problem, thus confirming the issue.

edit: it does sound a little like spring or a bushing poping.
edit 2: it doesn't only happen while i back out of my drive way, although i'm 99% sure its gonna happen there every time.
edit 3: Problem has been solved.

Could just simply be the front springs moving around in the strut.

hmmmm........does your driveway slant up or downhill ...... ??

The sound could be the ABS doing a self-test.... ??

Could be the limited slip differential settling in ..... ??


humfrz

its not on a hill, but it is definitely not flat. slight slant upward. if i leave the car in neutral, it would slowly roll backward.

it does sound a little like spring poping.

It may not be a spring, but could be your brake pad unsticking from the rotor. Sometimes rust forms over night and you hear a pop when they separate.

will the rust be visible? because i don't see any. not closely at least, maybe i should. also it pops while i'm backing out and turning the wheel, if its the rotor, wouldn't the sound happens the moment i move?

Rust on a rotor can form within a few hours.

Yes, usually it can be seen ..... but, sometimes you have to look closely.

If the pad was "sticking" to the rotor, then breaking lose, it would make a sound right when you first move the car.

If it is a spring "popping" you may consider spraying a bit of silicone spray around where the springs meet their seat.

Back in the day, we would mix up a concoction of kerosene and oil and squirt the heck out of the suspension parts till they didn't squeak anymore …… :D


humfrz

yah it is very weird. i just went home for lunch and wanted to see if i can replicate the sound. this time i didn't turn the wheel as much as i used to when i backed out of my spot. I still heard the "pop" but it wasn't as loud. it sounds like a spring + rubber pop. and it happens as i get out of the drive way and as the car is turning. very strange...

There's a video in this link. Does it sound like this?

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76006

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

To isolate it:

Raise the front of the car off the ground. Turn the wheels and see if the pads are being stuck to the rotors.

If not, see if noise is there when you have the car up in the air. If there is noise when you back up and turning, it simply could just be the springs having a tiny amount of play in the spring seat in the front struts.

-alex

sound very similar. except i only get 1 pop, instead of a series of pops.

I've had a clunking for quite some time. This only happens when I set off in 1st gear after the car sits for a while, and it will only happen once. I notice the same noise when I pull up the e-brake slightly under 20 mph. I wonder if its the e-brake sticking...?

Its rust and depends on break shoe brand. Oem toyota does it. Im using Wagner. They squeak but dont 'pop.'