Owners of 2006-08 Tribeca SUVs may complain of a rattle-type sound from the front suspension when going over bumpy roads.
One likely source of the noise, says Subaru, is a broken front stabilizer bar clamp or clamp bolt. Subaru said the problem occurs because the stabilizer bar was molded improperly at the factory, which leads to undue stress on the clamp and/or bolt that hold it to the front crossmember.
If a bolt has broken off in the crossmember, drill it out before installing an improved stabilizer bar, Part No. 20401XA00A.
A green dot on the bar tells you that it's the upgraded design. The part numbers for the clamp, bolts and retaining nuts are 20416XA00R9E, 010108200 and 023808000, respectively.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected]
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