Driver side rear-end is making a popping noise.
 

Hey guys, I have a 2006 wrx and it has been making a popping noise, mostly at low speeds when I hit a bump or turn any direction. I have been searching forums for help but, I cant find an answer. The only mods done back there are a Cobb Sway bar and stoptech rotors. Could the swab bar be making the noise if they are over-tightened or is it something like a bearing or a spring/strut?

I just want to avoid taking it to Subaru to have them spend all day trying to come up with something.

Sounds like an end link is loose or broken.

Okay. I dont think they are broken, but I will go ahead and replace them. What brand do you recommend? Kartboy, Whiteline?

Also, I was thinking about getting a new suspension set-up in a few months. What do most guys have in this area that is good for stiffining and iimporiving the ride, but not lowering it too low as to make it less effective in heavy snow? I am thinking coilovers.

The bolts holding them in may be loose could be the only problem. Check them.

It is also possible it is the top nut on the strut, or maybe one of the lower bolts/nuts, or something stuck in the spring or on the perch.

Get in there and check it out.

I had a moment of clarity and I think that the problem may be the mouting bracket for the sway bar. I remember that I had trouble getting it tight and it may have come loose. I will let you know what i find. Thanks for your help.

I got under the car today and foudn that the top bolt on both endlinks were a bit loose as well as some of the bolt and hex-screws were a bit loose. I fixed it and there is no more noise. I can't beleiveso much noise came from such a small issue.

Glad you found it...

Thousands of pounds of force moving a bolt a fraction of inch and then stopping it generates a significant amount of energy which turns into sound and can cause quite a bit of damage to the materials involved. This includes the threads on those bolts. Tightening may not last long if the threads were damaged. Be prepared to replace them if the sound returns.

I'm glad the noise was an easy fix.

Why are you thinking coilovers? What do you dislike about the stock setup? If you get springs that aren't going to drop you too much and aren't too stiff, you can stick with the stock struts. I sold some Eibach springs for $100 a while back. Keep your eye out for something similar. With alignment and camber bolts, you could be looking a less than a $200 investment, but don't forget the ~4 hours of labor.

I am fine with the stock setup, I was just thinking that when I do replace my suspension someday, I probably will just throw on a good set of coilovers (lowering is fine with me) because I am planning on keeping the car as a project car when it dies(fully re-build engine, swap to PPG's, and other upgrades). I probably will wait and see what Cobb comes out with for a coilover set-up.