This was discovered on a customers 06 STi this weekend. The engine shifted in the engine bay, the intercooler was scratched and hoses were ripped off. The new liquid filled STi mounts on 06's have plastic brackets. If you drive concervatively, they should be fine. If you have a tendancy to launch hard (dragging) you will probably break the stock mount.

-LIC Motorsports

 

Thanks for the heads up!!!

 

Are the 2006 WRX mounts the same?

 

According to part #'s. The bracket is the same (the part that broke). The cushions are differen't from the STi to the WRX. The new cushion is liquid filled like old subaru mounts were once. The WRX cushion is the standard cushion from the last few years. The bracket on the WRX is likely to break as well if enough power (torque) is applied. The STi torque/gearing of the tranny is likely to contribute to the failure. We shall see....

 

Thanks, great information.

 

oh dang, someone should write to SOA, maybe get a recall going...

 

Yeah, I wouldn't tell them about the whole drag racing thing though, they could see it as an opportunity to void warrenties.

 

plastic mounts on an STI.

Thats just brilliant...

 

Thanks for the warning. How can we get these mounts changed? And more importantly, how will you know that this has happened to you?

 

We were discussing the change to the plastic mounts today. It is possible that subaru changed the mounts to plastic to help indicate abuse by user. Kind of like a tell-tale guage.

 

Bad news

 

First of all, the mounts don't NEED to be changed.

For those who seek the best in motorsports, they can be easily changed to Group N STi Engine mounts. Many people changed there stock mounts before the backing plate was changed to plastic.

You will hear excessive/apparent noise (rattle/clunk) upon start-up and running, if the mount has broken. In extreme cases, like our customer experienced, the engine shifted and bent the IC shroud, scratched the IC, and the oil cap left an imprint on the hood insulation.

The change subaru has made to the mounts is possible move in regards to dealing with warranty. If one has changed the mounts to a harder version, and brought in for tranny/engine warranty work, it is possible the claim could be denied. The stock plastic mounts basically prohibit the car from being used in an abussive manner without a blatant red flag.

Just our $.02
It appears Big Brother is looking out for himself, and I don't blame him.
Too many people are playing hard and don't want to be accountable. This kind of behavior makes getting legitimate warranty work difficult for the good apples

 

OMG Plastic!!!

I guess 06 folks need to be doing the Group N mounts as their first mod...

 

Quick!

Everyone tell Subaru to buy back your warranty!!!

D'oh my car is too old...no warranty already!

 

Easy fix, just get a set of '05's and act none the wiser.