Carrier/rack problems of the 2008 Subaru Impreza

Chassis fatigue and cracking resulting in damage/potential compromise of driver controls. Welds for clutch bracket have failed resulting in cracking of firewall.

I own a 2008 Subaru Impreza wrx with a stock clutch. For approximately 2 years I have been hearing creaking and/or clicking noises when engaging the clutch pedal. In April of 2013 chatham Subaru in GA replaced my clutch due to the metal clutch fork wearing through at the pivot point within the bell-housing. They also noted a very hard clutch pedal and spongy brakes before the repair. They replaced the clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, fork and master cylinder (I replaced the slave cylinder before I brought it in) all of which I paid for. Initially the clutch felt great (brake feel was unchanged), but has since began to harden again. . Read more...

The clutch pedal on my 2008 wrx makes a loud creaking noise every time it's depressed (it will also pop if cold out). After reading other complaints online I found the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly (attached to the forward firewall) shifts approx 1/4 inch every time the clutch pedal is depressed, also causing the brake pedal to flex to the left. I can see at least two of my three spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall are broken. The whole clutch pedal assembly pulls away from the firewall every time the clutch pedal is depressed, the slave cylinder unit visibly moves. This allows the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly to move, causing the creaking noise. If the bracket completely separates from the firewall, the clutch may become completely inoperative, it already frequently feels like I cannot push the clutch in far enough to get it into gear. Feedback from the online forums shows Subaru is not addressing the problem of the faulty welds leading to expensive consumer repairs or alternative diy fixes.