Clanking on bump+popping on turns=???

[Don Holg]

I have an 07 mazda 3 (94,000km, 2.0l)

I’ve been trying and trying to figure out where this clanking noise is coming from when I go over small bumps. Going over big bumps slowly there is no problem, it’s the ones where it would be like going over a gravel road that I get this clanking (metal on metal) noise coming from the right front wheel area. Now to add to that, I’m occasionally getting a popping noise when I turn the wheel clockwise in parking lots. Only happens when I’m barely moving and it only happens once and then goes away.

I’ve tried checking the ball joints and sway bar links to get it to make a noise. Nothing. No play in the wheel at 12 and 6 or 3 and 9. Today is my last day to mess with it before taking it to a mechanic, so any suggestions for what else to check are welcome.

Topic

[Peter]

MacPherson strut bearing

[none]

Look at the control arm bushings. I think yours has a bushing on the back end that feeds the mounting bolt vertically. Bushings of that style tend to separate from its steel shell and then the control arm gets extra up and down movement. The arm can move up & down far enough to start hitting the subframe on bumps.

[Don Holg]

I was thinking about the strut. Any way to test that without taking the strut out of the vehicle?

[Peter]

[quote=”Feasle” post=117564]. Any way to test that without taking the strut out of the vehicle?[/quote]

You can ask someone to turn the wheels while you hold on to the springs, if you feel the clanking on the coils then your strut mounts/bearings are most likely dead

[george gonzalez]

Most cars have like 12 to 18 different individual rubber bushings in the front end. One of them is probably frittering away and may be shifting in its mounting ring. As Eric has noted, you can often spot these as the frittering results in some black or brown dust around the bushing. Look around carefully with a flashlight. Compare the outward appearance of the bushings. If one or more of them are a bit more brown on the outside, just a teense, that may be due to it being bad and twisting around in its mount. Note that like the drunk that looks around the light-pole for his keys, we tend to only look at the most visible bushings. You have to go out of your way to carefully look at each and every one. Sometimes this means taking out a bolt so you can get a close look at the bushing that is otherwise mostly obscured.

[Ingvar]

Based on 08 Mazda we had, it’s sway bar bushings. Had them fixed, took care of it right away.

[Author]

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