2003 subaru legacy, noise on acceleration that goes away over 30 mph

Hmm.. so it ONLY happens when taking off? Doesn't happen when stopped and at an idle? If so, I might check into CV axle. It might still be present at 30-40+ but you just can't hear it. Ticking would be "consistent" and rattling makes me think of exhaust heat shield (changes with harmonics / throttle response / etc and not so consistent - would likely be present at idle).

I'm going with Walth re heat shields first, as you said "ticking or rattling" rather than "chattering"...from CVs. Could also be piston slap, but that usually goes away when fully warm...but so do many heat shield rattles. Next oil change just bang under there with a rubber hammer to find the loose shield and clamp/bend/bind/remove it. If piston slap ignore. If CV boot replace axle fairly soon (if chatter continues when going STRAIGHT then risk of separation increases).

Hey Ern, any issues with reman subie axles? I know the festiva's have the wrong clip design and once they're IN.. they do NOT like to be removed. Borderline breaking the trans to remove the axle.

Maybe a few percent wobble at speed, but they're cheap and pretty easy to re-swap. Remarkable that you can get a PAIR of lovely half- shafts for the cost of a battery...used to be the other way around, eh?

LOL well.. I'm turning 30 later this year so... not really ;P But yeah, 40 bucks a pop on RA. Not bad at all.