Quote:
Originally Posted by slyphen
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.
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So the suspension tech was absolutely right in my case. I got a new front sway bar entirely (a perrin adjustable one) since this was an excuse for an upgrade. Upon replacing the sway bar the popping was gone entirely. Inspection of the bushings on the OEM sway bar showed clear signs of wear and they were the problem. I also purchased whiteline front end links just in case, didn't even need to install them, so now I can get my money back for those.
In conclusion, the popping is gone!
Turn your wheel to one side and get your head down close to the sway bar with a flashlight, you'll be able to see the bushings just fine. The bushing should be fully snug around the bar
(there should be a clear 90* angle between the bar and bushing). Check the edge of the bushing
(where it is wrapped around the bar) for rounded edges. The left and right bushings on my bar both had rounded edges from pressure and wear, and that was causing the popping. If anyone wants pictures of a good bushing versus a bad one for reference then I can fish out the old bar from wherever it ended up and take photos of the new 08-14 WRX rear sway bar that I'm about to install for pictures of proper fitment.
Good luck!
Edit: I also auto crossed the week before installing the bar and again right after installing the new front bar on a very similar course, at the same location. You are just fine to drive on the worn bushings, they are not the end of the world and you can take your time fixing them. For a BRZ stiffening the front up will add a little more understeer, I have an autocross focused alignment to negate some of it myself and it was still noticeable with the added stiffness of the Perrin
(25% or 72% stiffer than stock, I am using the 25% stiffer setting) bar, I am remedying this with a moderately stiff
(46% stiffer than stock) OEM 08-14 WRX sway bar in the back. For an FR-S the slightly stiffer front bar would actually make the car a tad more neutral though, so consider upgrading when you attempt a fix!