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My Front Suspension Creaking/Clicking Issue and Resolution

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26K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  AudioGeek  
#1 ·
I am writing this post to document my experience in fixing my front suspension issue, in the hope that it will help someone else facing the same issue.

My car model is 2019 Impreza Sport Hatch (USA) manufactured in Indiana around July 2019.

I bought the car in Dec 2019 with 60 miles on it, and from Day 1 I thought I could hear a small clicking sound whenever I go over a bump. The noise got progressively louder and I also figured out that it came from the driver side front suspension by going speed bumps at an angle so one wheel goes over first before the other.

This seem to be quite a common problem, regardless of trim or transmission. Here are the other examples I have found online:
Foodmanchew also has a video showing the exact same noise I had - Streamable - free video publishing

Anyway, I brought my car in to the dealer last week, and this was what they did. It took them 3 days (I had to go back to the dealer 3 times) to finally fix it.

Day 1: Took car in, diagnosis, ordered front struts. I took my car back.

Day 2: Received call that front struts arrived. Took car in. Replaced struts, but noise still there. Ordered Strut Mount. I went and took my car back.

Day 3: (3 days later) Received call that Mount has arrived. Took car in. Replaced Front Mount and Bearing, but noise is still there. Then they found that "boot catching on spring causing noise". They replaced the boot (Dust Cover) and this seemed to fully solve the problem.

These are all the specific parts that have been replaced:

20310FL05A: FRONT STRUT COMPLETE LH
20320FL000: STRUT MOUNT FRONT
20320FL01A: MOUNT BEARING F
20322FL00A: DUST COVER F

It's been fine the past day since I took it back, but I haven't driven it much this weekend. Will continue to monitor and update here if I experience any more problem with the suspension.
 
#3 ·
Would you say the struts did not need replacing, just the dust covers?
Prior to replacement of the dust cover, the service note said "Disassembled strut assembly and found top mount bearing to be loose. Replaced top mount with bearing and test drove vehicle and found noise still present".

So perhaps the mount bearing needed to be replaced anyway as they were already loose, but ultimately it was replacing the dust cover that fully solved it.
 
#5 ·
My 2019 Sport which I purchased last summer started getting this creaking noise around 11000 miles on the drivers side. I took it in to the service center two weeks ago and they diagnosed it to the 20322FL00A dust cover and had to order it.

So today I brought it in for the repair, and they actually state on the invoice they overhauled the left strut and replaced the dust cover per bulletin 05-82-21. No more creaking.

The Bulletin is not available yet at the TSB website.
 
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#13 ·
I thought I'd chime in here as I've had countless issues with the struts on my '18 Impreza Sport Hatch. It's actually at the dealer again as we speak. About 15 months ago (2 years-ish into my lease) I started hearing the creaking. Between two dealers in my area, I had the struts replaced, the mounts replaced and other actions taken but to no avail. The service guys have come to know me well. I just got an update from the shop now and they're going to replace the mounts with a newer design that Subaru apparently reviewed after issues with creaking in the old design. Fingers crossed...lease is up anyway and they'll for sure be getting the car back!