So my 1997 Outback seems to have a fairly noticeable clunk whenever pot holes or just driving over generally bumpy roads. Now this car has a reman set of axles in it from Advanced, and also wheel bearings and this is recent so I was just in there checking everything out. So I'm basically wondering what would cause a the clunk. Everything in there seems to be in very good condition, ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links, and teh shocks even feel quite firm when you try to push the car. I did notice that when I put the axles on they were not sitting very firm on the shaft of the transmission, I could move the inner cv around a noticeable amount on the transmission shaft, and thats with new pins in it also. But I'm not sure if that would cause this clunk I hear, I'm just really stumped cause nothing is obviously loose or worn out.

Sway bar links would be early suspects.

Any more description about exactly when/how it happens?

 

Can you tell "where" - center or a particular side?

 

I would suspect the top hat of a strut or the strut. Top hats will cause clunking like you describe and they do fail sometimes. The strut itself could be bad too. I'm not a strut expert but I had a 97 Impreza that would clunk on bumps/holes and everything else seemed fine, strut even seemed okay - but replacing it solved the problem.

 

One particular year - either 96 or 97 OB's had a strut or spring recall.

Interesting you should say that, I did actually swap the shocks from my 96 onto this car, as they were in better shape although by no means near new condition. It's hard to be specific about these kind of sounds, but seems like left and right, moreso on the passenger side if I had to pick but both would do it. I never got a noise like that on my 96, but maybe moving them around aggrevated the struts. The end links are possible, but they're sill intact, the rubber is a little cracked but nothing that should cause a clunk like that.

Go back and inspect your work. Also inspect ball joints, tie rod ends and rack mounts.

 

Are you sure those struts were good?

 

 

nipper

Check the sway bar bushings too. Mine were worn and caused a clunking sound over bumps. It's a cheap fix too, about $15.00 a pair.