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Subaru Forester Suspension/Steering Questions

55 messages,  Last post on Mar 30, 2011 at 7:34 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Steering, Suspension

Messages Page 4 of 6

#27 of 55 Suspension Issues by clintonron

Aug 27, 2007 (8:06 am)

I have an 03 forester with a 2.5 engine. I started to see drops of thick blace oil on my garage floor. I took it to my local mechanic and he seems to think that the control arm bushing in the rear on the drivers side is leaking fluid. I checked with the Subaru dealer and he said there is no fluid in the bushing. Has anyone had thie problem? Is there fluid in the bushing or not.
 
Thanks
 
ClintonRon

#28 of 55 Re: Suspension Issues [clintonron] by ateixeira

Aug 27, 2007 (11:02 am)

Replying to: clintonron (Aug 27, 2007 8:06 am)
A bushing would have grease on the outside, but I don't see how it could leak.
 
Check the axle boots. We had a 626 that leaked black grease from a torn boot.

#29 of 55 Re: Suspension Issues [ateixeira] by paisan

Sep 02, 2007 (2:32 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 27, 2007 11:02 am)
Agreed, definitely not a bushing, it's either the strut leaking oil which would be thin oil, more than not it's the rear CV leaking. Costs about $200-250 to replace.
 
-mike

#31 of 55 self levelling suspension problem by mrr5

Oct 13, 2007 (3:54 pm)

hi - I've just bought an old 97 forester automatic from a vehicle auction here in the UK for my wife after her car was written off in an accident. I was expecting a few "hidden niggles" and, sure enough I got some. The rear silencer fell apart two days after I got it home. After phoning the nearest Subaru dealer and getting a quote for replacements I picked myself up off the floor and found a local guy who makes systems for the local racer crowd to make me a stainless system for a fraction of the cost (straight through, narrow bore finisher so its sounds snorty but not stupid). This morning I noticed the tail is two inches lower than the nose, defintely sloping down at the bac (its obvious when you look at the claerance from the door bottoms to the floor). A friend of my dads (who's a diehard Subaru fan) tells me the self levelling suspension can be a real dog and is prone to failing. What I want to know is will the back end sink down any further? I won't be towing with it so could I simply drop in some taller springs? Please help - I'm starting to love the old girl but I think I might have a lemon!!!!

#32 of 55 Re: self levelling suspension problem [mrr5] by p0926

Oct 15, 2007 (2:05 pm)

Replying to: mrr5 (Oct 13, 2007 3:54 pm)
You have to expect a car that's 10 years old to have a few issues and since you got it at auction there's a distinct possibility that little in the way of routine maintenance was performed. Certainly it's no surprise that the shocks and exhaust are due for replacement (assuming they're the originals).
 
So calling it a lemon seems a tad premature. I recommend you take it to a trusted mechanic for a thorough going over. Once you get it in good running shape, the odds are good that it'll give you another 10 years of service
 
-Frank

#33 of 55 Re: self levelling suspension problem [p0926] by paisan

Oct 15, 2007 (6:15 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Oct 15, 2007 2:05 pm)
I would swap out the air suspension for a non-air suspension. Shouldn't be too expensive to do.
 
-mike

#34 of 55 Re: Front end noise? [gagecalman] by skarnes1

Oct 17, 2007 (5:42 pm)

Replying to: gagecalman (Jul 07, 2007 8:09 am)
Hi Gagecalman,
 
I'm wondering if you ever got this problem resolved and what was it? My car is being repaired now for a similar problem but mine also makes a noise when backing up to the left or right and when braking. They think its a bushing so keeping my fingers crossed but won't rest easy until fixed!

Messages Page 4 of 6

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