Hi All,

my car; MY00, PPP, Scoobysport 6pots, Prodrive suspension, ALK, front anti rollbar, 17" alloys.

For the last fews days, the first time i pulled off after the car has been sat for a few hours, i hear a "clunk" from the backend. Did not think much of it.
However, last night, "something" has happened because when driving the backend of the car feels really low - like it is being dragged. And anything other than the gentlest of corners, the backened feels like it is on water and wants to spin out.

I have no mechanical skills at all - nothing seems to be hanging off or look any different from normal.

Any ideas?
Kind regards
Scotty

PS just posted in suspension but now not sure if that is the right place

[Edited by Scotty Boy - 12/31/2003 12:01:06 PM]

 

UPDATE - just got back from the Subaru garage with the result that brakes and suspension are all in perfect working order anyone

 

I take it you're not a blacksmith, and are transporting your anvil in the boot, then.

Other than that, haven't a clue.

 

LOL at Bubba afraid i am not a blacksmith, so no anvil causing me problems

 

Brakes binding or stuck caliper (or shoe)?
Are you sure you're getting drive to the rear wheels?

Vindaloo.

 

Vindaloo
Subaru tell me the brakes are definatly not binding and all is working fine.
As far as drive to the rear wheels - i dont know. The car still accelrates the same in a straight line - so i assume that means i am getting drive to the rear wheels?

 

scotty boy,

the same thing happens to mine too. only happens if i havent driven her for quite a few days, when reversing out of the garage, it does the same thing.

i never thought anything of it cos my previous car (not a scooby) used to do the same thing. whether there is a problem though, dont know??

 

P1-day, so do you notice any actual handling difference?

Just took the wee beauty for a spin still "feels" the same, but there appears to be no loss of handling performance! Am i going mad

[Edited by Scotty Boy - 12/31/2003 3:24:09 PM]

 

any other ideas?

 

check your tyre presure on the back maybe there out of balance

 

fussey pucker - tyre pressure is spot on. In addition the MOT was done last week and two new rear tyres were put on. By balancing i assume that is the weights on the inside of the wheels? The weights are still there.

Scotty Boy

 

Did the problem start when the rear tyres were replaced for the MoT? Were the fronts changed at the same time? Are they the same make?

Suresh

 

Suresh - The problems started 4 days after the rear tyres were replaced. Only the rears were replaced. The front have plenty of tread left. All four tyres are Bridgestones

 

You should be wary of fitting tyres in pairs rather than sets. If there is significant wear on one pair, even if the tyre tread is well above the legal requirement, it may cause trouble with the AWD, or so I've heard.

 

Bubba Po - I have heard of what you are saying. However, I took the advice of the garage when they said only the rears need replacing?!?!?

 

tyre pressure

 

How many miles have you done on the rear tyres ... sounds like they are not scrub in yet. New tyres will always feel a little slippery until they are bedded in.

Dave.

 

stephen emery - i checked the tyre pressure a few days ago - all was accurate.

Beginning to think that maybe i have a faulty sensor and the car is actually fine

 

DemonDave - done about 200 miles but these have been pretty slow due to the rain and heavy traffic. How many miles will scrub tyres in do you reckon?

 

Allow for 500.
200 miles is certainly not run in and are bound to feel very loose

 

upto to a 1000 to really bed them in. The tyres will need to scrub in according to your suspension settings. My toyos are just feeling right now after about 1000. Find a few safe corners to rub the edges a bit.

 

DemonDave & Brun - Guys thanks very much. I have hardly had any fun around the corners due to the rain being so heavy. I have not noticed this effect on my previous scoobies, but then this is the first scooby that has got a modified suspension - this is beginning to make sense now

 

scotty boy,

i haven't felt any handling/performance diferences. i didn't think it was a problem, but after reading all this, not so sure any more??

this may not have anything to do with this and i am a bit embarrassed to say this, as i mentioned it once and was told to seek help, but here goes, when i wash under the arches (on the scoob that is), i find that on the left rear, i can get the hose and my rist in and underneath the arch, but on the right rear, i just cant do it. do u find the same?? could this have anything to do with the clunk problem??

 

Scotty Boy ....When you heard the 'clunk'after the car had been left for a while , had you washed it over this period or had it rained heavily ? The reason I ask is I get this quite often after I wash the car (wheels get a good going over ),as I first pull off the brakes clunk. It just might be a combination of this and new rear tyres putting your nerves on edge .

Dave

 

P1-Day - I am sorry to worry you. I just get a little freaked out by those strange noises / experiences !!! In answer to your question - just went out to try again but i CAN get my wrist under both arches. Not really too sure if that is good or not??

In The Sticks - Each time i heard the "clunk", it had rained very heavily. Think you could be right.

Maybe i am noticing this more because of the modified suspension and brake set up on this scooby?!?!?!

 

scotty boy,

gonna take her for a spin tonight after one week of not driving her, cant wait.

to the point, will take extra attention when reversing out, im sure it will happen, but off memory, i remember the back end lifts up along with the clunk, suggesting that the rear has sunk when it sits still for quite some time. will post tomorro with result

 

Scotty,

Just a word of caution. Your tyre place should have told you to take it relatively easy on the tyres until the first, say, 500 miles have been covered. This is for 2 reasons; to give the tyres time to bed in and, more importantly, to give time for the silicone coating that all new tyres come with to get scrubbed off. The coating will have an adverse effect on the handling until it gets scrubbed off.

I have it on good authority from my local supplier that an M3 owner did not heed the advice re the Silicone coating and stuffed his car into the first roundabout he came to after an all round tyre change.

In relation to the clunking noise from the rear I had this on my MY 00 wagon and on the current STi. Seems they all do that sir.

Finally I would be very wary of just changing one set of tyres for fear of upseting the handling of the car. I usually change all 4 tyres at the same time as a fair few owners do, and then get my geometry and tracking set up from scratch.

Hope these musings help.

WB


[Edited by wacky.banana - 1/2/2004 11:09:10 AM]

 

P1-Day - i have no doubt you will enjoy the drive and i look forward to your report cheers, scotty

 

wacky.banana - thank you. my tyre place did not give me this warning However, it has now been heard and i will adhere to it. Think i will look into getting the geometry checked after i have done a few more miles and scrubbed the rubber beauties in
Not so worried about the 'clunk' now - seems it is more common than i thought.
WOW, i had no idea that tyres could make such a difference !!

Scotty

[Edited by Scotty Boy - 1/2/2004 11:13:44 AM]

 

Scotty,

Yes tyres can, and do make a helluva difference. I have been through the gamut of Bridgestone, Toyo, Pirelli, Michelin, Goodyear. Each tyre has had a marked influence on the handling of the car, and it wasn't my imagination either.

The geometry thing will make a difference and you should have this looked at every now and then (say yearly, or more frequently, depending on how many miles you do and your driving style). Scoobs, like all other cars, settle on their rubber bushings over time and this does alter some of the suspension characteristics. Having had a car that resolutely pulled to the left no matter what I did, not good in a seriously quick circa 280 bhp motor (was down to a certain tyre type in the end) I know how important this whole area of car maintenance is!

Drive safely, amigo.

WB