Can anyone figure out if my shocks blown?

[xtasy]

Hey guys, yesterday the shocks was making some noise. It was the first time the weather reach 30 degrees. (car was bought used with 23k miles, right now it have 35,200)


The noise I was hearing was like Metal rubbing on Metal, plastic scraping on floor..
They were coming from the front left side of the car. Aside from that, it sounds like something is loose in the front end, when going over small bumps (it's been like that ever since I bought the car). Shocks does not feel blown at all.


You can hear it all within the first minute of the video. the clunking noise is at 24-25 seconds.

Mazdaspeed3 Suspension clunking - YouTube

Mazdaspeed3 Suspension clunking - YouTube

[asall667]

my rear left shock blew out at 57k miles. i would hit a bump and it would hit very hard like metal on metal sound.

could be a simple bushing tho. get under the car and check for leaks

[xtasy]

Originally Posted by asall667 my rear left shock blew out at 57k miles. i would hit a bump and it would hit very hard like metal on metal sound. could be a simple bushing tho. get under the car and check for leaks

I checked already, there's no leaks. I'll be checking my sway bar bushings on monday. Hopefully it's not a blown shock. This car gotta last me another 3-4 months before it gets coilovers =|

[asall667]

good luck to sir. its prolly not if ur getting clunking over small road rash and no leaks...u would def noticed the leak too. The dealer spotted a puddle under my car when mine blew thats how I found out.

[silvapain]

These cars tend to squeak and creak when it's cold out. My car did it in stock suspension, and still does it on coilovers.


Tapadatass

[asall667]

Originally Posted by silvapain These cars tend to squeak and creak when it's cold out. My car did it in stock suspension, and still does it on coilovers. Tapadatass

After all, its a mazdas version of a "sports car". Car and Driver says if u want more luxury u should have bought a GTI lol FYVN

[chuckms6]

wait till it warms up then see if it goes away. the cold makes fluids thicker and closes tolerances in bushings so that may be where your noise is coming from

[Hectik1]

When my shock (leaking)went bad I didn't have any noise. It felt unsteady while going through bumpy turns, but nothing else.

When my endlink loosened, it sounded like someone was banging a hammer on the underside of my car.

[Lytheum]

below freezing my suspension makes some awful noises. they go away once the temps go back up.

[tddvrrn]

mine made some hideous thunks when it firsts started dropping below chilly. i took it in and was told everything seemed solid. it has since quieted down. not sure if it needed to adjust to the cold or if it will come back when it starts dropping down further in temp. we'll see.

[Meder]

Sounds Like strut mount. Its common for them to fail it seems

[dooderek]

lol fwd sports car, hey what you using to mount your camera?

[predapio]

There is a thread on here from 3 years ago from yours truly, it explains what to watch for when it gets cold.

Too lazy to search for it.

[smakdown61]

I replaced mine at 50k miles. Turns out they weren't blown but were extremely worn and couldn't rebound dampen worth a shit. Felt dangerous to drive.

[Raider]

I'd say end link, sway bar bracket, or strut mount.

[xtasy]

Thanks guys, I'll probably fix this after winter. Going to find an aftermarket front sway bar and change it along with coilovers or strut/spring combo

[Raider]

I think you might need to check into ths sooner than later.

[ak_spray]

Originally Posted by Hectik1 When my shock (leaking)went bad I didn't have any noise. It felt unsteady while going through bumpy turns, but nothing else. When my endlink loosened, it sounded like someone was banging a hammer on the underside of my car.

This is exactly what happened to me. Couldn't have said it better myself.

As far as an Aftermarket front sway bar you might have to get both of them in a set. As far as I know JBR is the only one that sells sway bars separately and he only sells the rear. If its a bad shock you need to get it taken care of asap. I didn't know mine was leaking and I took a hard turn on the highway and the back end stepped out. If it was intentional it would have been cool but when you aren't expecting it, its not.

[Domino81]

I'd see if you can get it up on a lift and check lower control arms, sway bars and links. Just to see if everything is still tight.

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by xtasy Thanks guys, I'll probably fix this after winter. Going to find an aftermarket front sway bar and change it along with coilovers or strut/spring combo

Do you still have the OEM rear sway bar??

If not, I'd suggest replacing that before messing with the front...

[ak_spray]

Put this on last week, really enjoying it and no squeaks from the rear anymore. You'd be supporting one of the best guys in the business too.

Rear Sway Bar Kit 07'-2012 Black [MS3RSB-BLK] - $195.00 : James Barone Racing, Custom Fabrication

[xtasy]

Originally Posted by Nliiitend1 Do you still have the OEM rear sway bar?? If not, I'd suggest replacing that before messing with the front...

Yes, I currently have JBR RSB on the stiffest setting.

I've been debating on Used coilovers, but I think I'll settle with the following

Bilstein Shocks/struts
H&R or Eibach Springs
Hotchkis FSB
Some stiffer front and rear end links (haven't done much research on which to get yet)
and JBR Rear camber arms.


I was planning on purchasing Tigermack's Tein SS with 30k miles for a third of retail.
But knowing he's a hardcore autocrosser, I am currently having second thoughts about it.
Still unsure of what to do as of now.

What would you do? Opinions?

Options are:
Bilstein Shocks/struts + 1.8 lowering spring (900 ish)

Tein SS w/ 30k miles for 500 ish

BC coilover w/ 20k for 400 ish

[Anaphra]

Did you ever figure out what the problem was? The attached videos sort of sounds like what i've got going on. But mine's more clunky and floor boardy

[Vansquish]

Originally Posted by Anaphra Did you ever figure out what the problem was? The attached videos sort of sounds like what i've got going on. But mine's more clunky and floor boardy

Good luck getting a reply. The guy hasn't been on the forum since August 2018, and the last post here in this thread was 9 years before yours.

[Anaphra]

Eh, it was worth a shot.

[Frequentflyer]

Originally Posted by Anaphra Eh, it was worth a shot.

Knocking underneath the driver's feet is almost always the swaybar end links. If you are getting a clunking through the steering with what feels to be a little bit of "play", could be the strut bearings.

[Anaphra]

I is ended up replacing the top hats to try and fix the the sound and feeling I was getting. It ended up fixing a 1 sound I had that i guess over shadowed another, or something. But last week I finally crawled under there and found that the sway bar to endlink bolt had backout slightly, but enough to make noise. And I also discovered the reason as to why I wasn't able to originally find it. When ever I had the car up in the air or the wheel turned so that I could shake stuff, the swaybar and endlink would bind on each other somehow and not produce the noise.

I know this thread is dead, but If anyone is interested I can post the video I got of the noise.