Vicious scraping and rubbing with Blizzak 205/55/17 Steelies, dealer says no steel???

[LukeP]

mine doesn't do this at all.

It very well could be interference between the brake caliper and the inside of the steel wheel.
and from your vivid description of the grinding noise that you feel through your seat, that could well be it. Look inside the front wheels for circumferential scrape marks.

Why would the caliper, which is affixed onto the hub itself, only scrape the circumference of the wheel on suspension compression?

 

[bacarl]

Because that's when the wheel could possibly flex enough to bring it into contact with the caliper.

Thing is, with a 17" wheel there should be sufficient clearance in there.

 

[Element]

I threw on my winter tires, and noticed some rubbing and scraping over bumps as it got progressively colder. Today it hit -12 C and it sounds like I'm riding the chassis into the asphalt every time the smallest bump hits. Its vicious sounding. To my knowledge, this wheel/tire combination should work....Do I need spacers? Have I missed something? Lugs are tight and the sound goes away as the car warms up. Once it reaches optimal driving temperature (with the same exterior temperature) its all settled and doesn't rub anymore.

The dealer says steel wheels don't offset the same and you can't use them on the Speed 3. I say bulls***.

Help!

I have the same issue. I have narrowed it down to the cold causing the suspension to squeak until the car is warmed up. I keep the car in a heated garage now and I have no issues with squeaking. However if I leave it in the driveway and let it sit for a bit in the cold (winter cold) it starts making those noises.

 

[naddie]

Yea, I get that loud crunch, clank, thud with every bump. After it's driven for a while, it lessens or goes away. I heard it yesterday and today, and freaked out until I read many forum threads like this one.

I just can't believe Mazda allowed the car to leave the design stage like this. Don't they do cold weather testing?

Will replacing the bushings under warranty fix the issue, or will it just come back?

 

[Young Roids]

Yea, I get that loud crunch, clank, thud with every bump. After it's driven for a while, it lessens or goes away. I heard it yesterday and today, and freaked out until I read many forum threads like this one.

I just can't believe Mazda allowed the car to leave the design stage like this. Don't they do cold weather testing?

Will replacing the bushings under warranty fix the issue, or will it just come back?

I don't even think anything is wrong with it. It's just a noise I do not believe any parts are being damaged.

 

[Element]

Yea, I get that loud crunch, clank, thud with every bump. After it's driven for a while, it lessens or goes away. I heard it yesterday and today, and freaked out until I read many forum threads like this one.

I just can't believe Mazda allowed the car to leave the design stage like this. Don't they do cold weather testing?

Will replacing the bushings under warranty fix the issue, or will it just come back?

I agree. I know I didnt buy a BMW but for ***** sake a Kia sounds better in the winter than my MS3 does. Thats why I am seriously considering trading it in.

 

[Young Roids]

I can't believe you would trade in a perfectly good car because it squeeks over bumps for 5 minuites. But it's your money.

 

[Element]

I can't believe you would trade in a perfectly good car because it squeeks over bumps for 5 minuites. But it's your money.

Well it doesnt go away in 5 minutes, it goes away after about 20 mins and thats usually my drive into work, so its pretty damn annoying. I have never heard a car squeak so bad before. You're right it is my money and I didn't pay to have a car that squeaks with every suspension compression.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I didn't pay to have a car that squeaks with every suspension compression.

You're right...

But you also bought a performance car. And it's a car that may not be loaded up with sound deadening material either. They spent a lot of time reducing NoiseVibrationHarshness (NVH) but damn..give us a break.

The MS3 wasn't really designed for extreme cold temps..but all cars are going to creak in cold temps from time to time. It didn't make noise in the summer did it? Only my dash rattled a little, and my seat is creaking slightly when I move around in it. I'm wondering how I can fix that. Maybe some WD-40 in the hinges underneath the covering.

It could be worse, like the car could just not start?

 

[Element]

You're right...

But you also bought a performance car. And it's a car that may not be loaded up with sound deadening material either. They spent a lot of time reducing NoiseVibrationHarshness (NVH) but damn..give us a break.

The MS3 wasn't really designed for extreme cold temps..but all cars are going to creak in cold temps from time to time. It didn't make noise in the summer did it? Only my dash rattled a little, and my seat is creaking slightly when I move around in it. I'm wondering how I can fix that. Maybe some WD-40 in the hinges underneath the covering.

It could be worse, like the car could just not start?

I had an RX8 before and it never squeaked but it wouldnt start in the cold lol.

Trust me no sound deadening will solve this squeak and it is quite loud. I know I bought a performance hatch, and I dont expect it to be the quietest thing in the world. However one would have expected that some cold weather testing would have been done and this issue noted. It isnt even that cold out right now, only like -10C and it squeaks bad. I dont look forward to the -40C days. Out of all the cars we own, only the Mazda squeaks in the cold.

I had the seat squeak as well and I had them replace the seat under warranty. No squeak since!

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

The car is built and designed for Japan. They even had to widen the front seats by 6" to accomodate the US market. They didn't however, test the car extensively in cold weather, I can count on that. The GTO wasn't tested at all in winter and you could tell. The doors weren't lined with weatherstripping, the weatherstripping was permanently on the car. And it would get hard as hell and the door would shut so god damn hard it would pop your ears. But, it sure was comfy in those huge recliner seats of that car.

Sometimes you gotta look at the positive man..times are tough, companies are struggling, people are having a hard time making ends meet, and you've got a beautiful car that does alot and doesn't cost a lot. I'd say you've got it pretty good compared to others out there. Count your blessings!

 

[Element]

The car is built and designed for Japan. They even had to widen the front seats by 6" to accomodate the US market. They didn't however, test the car extensively in cold weather, I can count on that. The GTO wasn't tested at all in winter and you could tell. The doors weren't lined with weatherstripping, the weatherstripping was permanently on the car. And it would get hard as hell and the door would shut so god damn hard it would pop your ears. But, it sure was comfy in those huge recliner seats of that car.

Sometimes you gotta look at the positive man..times are tough, companies are struggling, people are having a hard time making ends meet, and you've got a beautiful car that does alot and doesn't cost a lot. I'd say you've got it pretty good compared to others out there. Count your blessings!

Dont get me wrong I'm not shooting the MS3 down and in fact encouraging my wife's brother to get one. However this is my first major complaint about the car and one that could have easily been avoided.

 

[Young Roids]

Maybey if you greased the bushings they would not squeek any more. Worth a shot beofre you take a huge loss by trading in.

 

[nhluhr]

I had an RX8 before and it never squeaked but it wouldnt start in the cold lol.

Trust me no sound deadening will solve this squeak and it is quite loud. I know I bought a performance hatch, and I dont expect it to be the quietest thing in the world. However one would have expected that some cold weather testing would have been done and this issue noted. It isnt even that cold out right now, only like -10C and it squeaks bad. I dont look forward to the -40C days. Out of all the cars we own, only the Mazda squeaks in the cold.

I had the seat squeak as well and I had them replace the seat under warranty. No squeak since!

Look, your situation is not typical. Just because one or two others have had it happen doesn't mean they all do. Mine never makes the slightest sound. Plain and simple you either have a bushing that is not fully tightened (and thus it is slipping instead of flexing) or you have a bushing that is SUPPOSED to slide but needs lubrication. Have your dealership fix the squeak under warranty.

I had a vicious squeak on my 05 STi on rebound and it turned out to be a bad bushing on the rear mounting point for the front right control arm. One simple replacement and it was silent for the rest of the time I owned it.

 

[Element]

Maybey if you greased the bushings they would not squeek any more. Worth a shot beofre you take a huge loss by trading in.

Well I'm not taking a huge loss, and in fact my payments get cheaper and I'm not losing the functionality of a hatch or performance. In fact I gain an additional 2 working wheels.

Look, your situation is not typical. Just because one or two others have had it happen doesn't mean they all do. Mine never makes the slightest sound. Plain and simple you either have a bushing that is not fully tightened (and thus it is slipping instead of flexing) or you have a bushing that is SUPPOSED to slide but needs lubrication. Have your dealership fix the squeak under warranty.

I had a vicious squeak on my 05 STi on rebound and it turned out to be a bad bushing on the rear mounting point for the front right control arm. One simple replacement and it was silent for the rest of the time I owned it.

I did take it to the dealer, and was told the first time that they couldn't duplicate the problem, and the second time that it was absolutely normal. As for taking it to another dealer the next closest one is 8 hours away and I'm not about to drive that far for service.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I had the seat squeak as well and I had them replace the seat under warranty. No squeak since!

Are you serious? Wow..

I really don't want to be a pain in my dealers ass, but if they'd replace my seat, i'd be willing to have it done. It squeaks and drives me nuts.

Look, your situation is not typical. Just because one or two others have had it happen doesn't mean they all do. Mine never makes the slightest sound. Plain and simple you either have a bushing that is not fully tightened (and thus it is slipping instead of flexing) or you have a bushing that is SUPPOSED to slide but needs lubrication. Have your dealership fix the squeak under warranty.

I had a vicious squeak on my 05 STi on rebound and it turned out to be a bad bushing on the rear mounting point for the front right control arm. One simple replacement and it was silent for the rest of the time I owned it.

Don't get him all amped up over a couple of squeaks. The LESS your dealer touches the car, the better. Your car comes from the factory set up pretty damn well. It's when the dealer starts touching it when things start messing up more. I've learned that with experience. If it's not absolutely crucial for them to touch the car, I won't have them touch it.

My second gear crunches every so often. I won't take it in. My guess is it'll take months of visits and "could not duplicates" before they'll finally tear the trans down, replace something completely opposite of the problem, then the car will never be the same, and probably end up being worse!

Sqeaks and rattles are going to happen. If it ain't BROKE, don't fix it. It isn't broke, and it's not going to be perfect. Leave whatever bushing or nonsense alone. Until it physically breaks, then have them fix it.

I've learned (again the hard way) there is no such thing as "preventative warranty maintenance". Only, warranty work. They won't fix something ahead of time as a courtesy. Only if it needs to. Best to let it get worse so it's easier to diagnose and quicker to fix.

 

[LukeP]

Its starting to look like bushings then....

It's in Mazda's best interest to do something about this. I have their flagship performance car branded with their "Mazdaspeed" logo and it sounds like junk going down the road, creaking from the windshield and squaking from the bushings in the cold.

It makes me sad that anybody with $9000 Grand Prix can look down their nose at me and think "ha, he got robbed, what a lemon."

I shouldn't be ashamed of or make excuses for a brand new car I shelled out big bucks for. Unfortunately for Mazda, I refuse to do so. Anyone asking is going to get honest criticism out of me.

The only counter argument I can think of is if this thing has some kind of racing bushings or suspension setup that, when cold, makes horrible noises by design.

And to anyone who says they don't ever hear it, keep in mind it has to be -12 C or 10.3 F or lower. Not sure how cold it gets in your neck of the woods.

 

[Young Roids]

I don't even mind it at all. I don't see what the big deal is

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Okay..well you're set in your mind, and you're hell bent on causing issues with Mazda and the service center. So..have fun.

 

[mckraut]

I have the same noise happen any time it's below freezing out. I have stock wheels and tires (I know, I know. I just ordered all-seasons from TireRack).