Tranny CLUNK

[UP2MTNS]

ok, so I've developed a pretty bad 'clunk' in my tranny over the past 1,000 miles.

First....04WRX, +80k miles, stock tranny.

Its very obvious and I think its something simple, but my first fix didn't work. When I'm in 1-3rd gear, I can get my tranny to 'clunk' when either 1)I'm on the gas and let off the pedal suddenly and completely, I get a distinct 'clunk'.

2) while coasting in gear, if I suddenly step on it, I get the same 'clunk'. This is not very apparent in 4-5th gears. When it 'clunks' in one direction, it won't do it again until you reverse it. ie, clunks on acceleration, but won't clunk again if I modulate the throttle, only if I take it off completely (while in gear) and get the weight to transfer forward (compression braking) will it clunk again.

First fix...I though I broke the tranny mount, so I replace it....not it.

I'm thinking of buying new tranny cross member bushings (from L&E), but would rather get some opinions on what else it could be. Its a fairly obvious and distinct sound, pretty much metal on metal, that i can hear very well with the window down....so I don't think its anything internal to the transmission. I suppose it could also be the clutch, but again, the sound is metal on metal, and really seems to be exterior, and is bi-directional.

I can get it to do it while the car isn't moving either.....parking brake on, 1st gear...slip the clutch a little, car jerks forward and 'clunk'.....but do to it again, I have to put it in reverse, slip the clutch...'clunk'.

[L and E Fab.com]

You need all three drive train bushings to get rid of the the tranny thunk.

Cross member washers.
http://www.landefab.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1546f93d9bd1337/shopdata/0005_Subaru+Impreza/0040_Impreza+1993-2001/0010_Drivetrain/0060_Bushings/product_details.shopscript?article=0020_Super%2BPr o%2B-%2BGearbox%2BCross%2BMember%2BIsolator%2BMount%2B% 3D28GP-SP-SPF2358K%3D29

Rear of Rear Diff to cross member.
http://www.landefab.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1546f93d9bd1337/shopdata/0005_Subaru+Impreza/0040_Impreza+1993-2001/0010_Drivetrain/0060_Bushings/product_details.shopscript?article=0030_Super%2BPr o%2B-%2BRear%2Bof%2BRear%2BDifferential%2Bto%2BCross%2B Member%2B%3D28GP-SP-SPF2433K%3D29

and the Rear diff carryer washers.
http://www.landefab.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1546f93d9bd1337/shopdata/0005_Subaru+Impreza/0040_Impreza+1993-2001/0010_Drivetrain/0060_Bushings/product_details.shopscript?article=0040_Super%2BPr o%2B-%2BRear%2BDiff%2Bto%2BCross%2BMember%2BSupplement% 2Bwashers%2B%3D28GP-SP-SPF1978K%3D29

[JacksonRally]

You need all three drive train bushings to get rid of the the tranny thunk.

Cross member washers.
http://www.landefab.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1546f93d9bd1337/shopdata/0005_Subaru+Impreza/0040_Impreza+1993-2001/0010_Drivetrain/0060_Bushings/product_details.shopscript?article=0020_Super%2BPr o%2B-%2BGearbox%2BCross%2BMember%2BIsolator%2BMount%2B% 3D28GP-SP-SPF2358K%3D29

Rear of Rear Diff to cross member.
http://www.landefab.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1546f93d9bd1337/shopdata/0005_Subaru+Impreza/0040_Impreza+1993-2001/0010_Drivetrain/0060_Bushings/product_details.shopscript?article=0030_Super%2BPr o%2B-%2BRear%2Bof%2BRear%2BDifferential%2Bto%2BCross%2B Member%2B%3D28GP-SP-SPF2433K%3D29

and the Rear diff carryer washers.
http://www.landefab.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1546f93d9bd1337/shopdata/0005_Subaru+Impreza/0040_Impreza+1993-2001/0010_Drivetrain/0060_Bushings/product_details.shopscript?article=0040_Super%2BPr o%2B-%2BRear%2BDiff%2Bto%2BCross%2BMember%2BSupplement% 2Bwashers%2B%3D28GP-SP-SPF1978K%3D29

+1 I have just recently replaced only motor and trans mounts and that got rid of my "clunk" under accel. but I'm also gonna pretty much go through and replace all the bushings, rear diff. bushings etc...I have heard nothing but good things about replacing the stock bushings. Good luck Jon.

[BlueREX04]

I have 89k on mine and I dont have any clunks... yet :-) but I will order a set of them just in case.

[BlackParis]

I have 89k on mine and I dont have any clunks... yet :-) but I will order a set of them just in case.

They REALLY do make a noticeable difference in handling... even if you don't yet have a clunk.. Well worth the money!

I have a Perrin kit that is the same parts... Love it!

[odi]

I would elevate your car (i.e. car lift, very secure stands...). Block the wheels (hand brake... be creative and safe). Have someone inside the car engage clutch while in gear with motor running (It sounds like the clunk would trigger then from what you described). While this is repeated, peek under you car at every joint, bushing... that you can and find that slop.

In the past I have wasted lots of money replacing parts that I "figured" would fix it :x. If you can't imagine doing it in a safe way, don't do it.

Hope that helps.

[UP2MTNS]

I would elevate your car (i.e. car lift, very secure stands...). Block the wheels (hand brake... be creative and safe). Have someone inside the car engage clutch while in gear with motor running (It sounds like the clunk would trigger then from what you described). While this is repeated, peek under you car at every joint, bushing... that you can and find that slop.

In the past I have wasted lots of money replacing parts that I "figured" would fix it :x. If you can't imagine doing it in a safe way, don't do it.

Hope that helps.

yeah, while its good to replace these bushings anyway, the 'clunk' is more than just the typical suby issue, its really loud an is definitely metal on metal. something's broke, or maybe a bushing is completely destroyed.

getting under the car while its running and having my roommate feather the clutch in gear while the parking brake is on isn't really what I want to be doing though, LOL.

[sebhockey]

Jon, I really think you just need to bring the car over here so we can toss it on the lift one day and look for any damaged or loose parts. I'm 90% sure I can get your car on base here and on the lift. A saturday morning would work best, but I should prolly talk to the shop manager first to make sure. I'm sorta friends with him, so I don't think it'll be too big a deal as long as no one else is behind us.

[UP2MTNS]

Jon, I really think you just need to bring the car over here so we can toss it on the lift one day and look for any damaged or loose parts. I'm 90% sure I can get your car on base here and on the lift. A saturday morning would work best, but I should prolly talk to the shop manager first to make sure. I'm sorta friends with him, so I don't think it'll be too big a deal as long as no one else is behind us.

what are you doing THIS saturday? JB

[sebhockey]

Jon, I really think you just need to bring the car over here so we can toss it on the lift one day and look for any damaged or loose parts. I'm 90% sure I can get your car on base here and on the lift. A saturday morning would work best, but I should prolly talk to the shop manager first to make sure. I'm sorta friends with him, so I don't think it'll be too big a deal as long as no one else is behind us.

what are you doing THIS saturday? JB

Nothing planned yet, let me go talk to SK2 to double check to see if it's cool.

[sebhockey]

Just asked SK2, it was exactly as I thought I just have to be the one there. Just have current driver's license, insurance and registration so we can get your car on base. Then we can take your car into the shop, I have to sign the waiver since I have to be the customer. You hand me the money when we're finished and I give it to him, cash only $3 an hour for lift usage. Shop has all the tools we need to work on your car including pnuematics.

[UP2MTNS]

Just asked SK2, it was exactly as I thought I just have to be the one there. Just have current driver's license, insurance and registration so we can get your car on base. Then we can take your car into the shop, I have to sign the waiver since I have to be the customer. You hand me the money when we're finished and I give it to him, cash only $3 an hour for lift usage. Shop has all the tools we need to work on your car including pnuematics.

cool...how about 10:30am? this has been a rough week, I need to sleep in a little since Sunday I'm up early.

[sebhockey]

Just asked SK2, it was exactly as I thought I just have to be the one there. Just have current driver's license, insurance and registration so we can get your car on base. Then we can take your car into the shop, I have to sign the waiver since I have to be the customer. You hand me the money when we're finished and I give it to him, cash only $3 an hour for lift usage. Shop has all the tools we need to work on your car including pnuematics.

cool...how about 10:30am? this has been a rough week, I need to sleep in a little since Sunday I'm up early.

Works for me. If ya need a address to find the base you should be able to mapquest Spencer Rd, Alameda, CA. Either way there's a sign that tells ya "CG Island next exit" on the 880.

[sebhockey]

Hey Jon, do me a favor before you come though, rinse the underside of your car well. Last thing we want is to have a lot of dirt falling on us while were looking for the problem, and we have to clean up the area under the lift.

[409industries]

All those bushings sound fun to change, hope you get the noise isolated on the lift! Good luck!

[UP2MTNS]

Hey Jon, do me a favor before you come though, rinse the underside of your car well. Last thing we want is to have a lot of dirt falling on us while were looking for the problem, and we have to clean up the area under the lift.

yeah, I've already driven a few hundred miles to/from work and I washed it off last night including the wheel wells, its as clean as its gonna get.

[sebhockey]

Looks like all is good in the world now. We got it on the lift and with the help of SK2 we figured out it wasn't the tranny, but the driver's front wheel bearing. The passenger rear bearing sounded like it was starting to go too, but we only replaced the driver's front for now. It was a pain to get the old bearing out and new one in, but mostly cause we didn't have anything that matched the outside bearing race in size to use to press it in and out. We finally got it, and it was a good thing I'm on SK2's good side cause we went a little past closing time. Jon just left and I've yet to hear anything back from him, so I'm assuming that all is good and no more clunk.

[tuffsti]

my car clunks hella hard when im in first and giving like more than half throtle off a stop it feels like its from the driveshaft or rear diff my buddy said my rear diff might need fluid idk imma put some in hopefully it gies away it happened after some serious ass hauling in some seriouly horrendous terrian rocks rocks rocks holes ect the sounds were horrible soo ill see i hope my rear diff didnt chip a thooth what do u guys think

[westy2005]

I have seen anything from wheel bearings (such as OP's case) to trans mount (20k on my 06 N/A impreza tranny mount broke), all the way to the rear diff outrigger bushings being bad (normally 100k+ mile cars)