Long time lurker here. My '98 Legacy Outback (manual 5sp 120k mi) has a clunk. It's a loud knocking clunk that happens sort-of randomly and singularly (i.e never any rhythmic repetition) when I'm accelerating, turning, or going over bumps. It sounds like it's coming from somewhere around the engine or center of the car, I'm not sure.
I had a jet-engine sounding noise about two months ago, and it turned out to be a bad front wheel bearing. I had both front bearings replaced at the dealer (I know I know), and right afterwards this clunking noise started happening and gradually getting louder and more frequent ever since. I let the dealer look at it again because I thought it might be something wrong with the job they did before, but they said it wasn't, and that maybe it stemmed from the non-subaru brake pads I had installed... something about the housing being the wrong size. And would I like them to put on Subaru-brand brakes. I passed.
So I took it to my local shop and they put it up on the lift with a guy in it running it and shifting. They listened from underneath and said that it sounded like it came from the transfer case. But they don't do transmissions, so I have to go elsewhere.
I'm wondering:
1) Do you think the shop is right?
2) Could the dealer have been right?
3) Does "transfer case" mean it's the VCD failing (I've heard this is common).
4) Would this (or some other explanation) maybe be related to the wheel bearing problem?
5) Could it be an engine mount problem?
6) Any other wisdom?
Many many thanks,
Alex
