Clunking noise from front right on bumps/fast corners

[ScaryFast]

Hey there, ScaryFast here, new the the Mazda Forums because I just got a 2002 Protege 5 2 weeks ago.

As is the case with a new car (new to me) I've done a lot of driving in the past 2 weeks and I've come across one problem I can't seem to track down.

I first noticed a clunking noise coming from the front right portion of the vehicle while taking a specific corner at the top of a hill with a bit of a dip beyond that causes the car to dip and compress the front suspension. It always does it on this corner no matter what. I thought it was a loose "panel" in the wheel well being pushed out by the wind and hitting the turn when it's turned a bit but securing this panel doesn't solve the problem.

I've started to pay much more attention and look for these noises by keeping my stereo volume down or completely off and have noticed other times when it does it as well. While making right hand turns over rough terrain (coming from a street with torn up pavement in preparation for new pavement onto a street with pavement and hitting that ridge) I can hear the noise, and while out driving on winding roads in poor shape purposefully trying to reproduce the noise I can hear it all the time in corners and in straight stretches whenever I hit a bump, albeit a rather large bump.

Oh yes, my friends driveway has quite a hump caused by the sidewalk and it drops down to dirt on both sides and I've noticed it makes this noise when the front right wheel goes over the sidewalk and drops down to the driveway again but the wheel is also turned a lot when this happens. Doesn't happen when I back out of his driveway with the wheel straight though.

I went out today to try and pop the wheel off and look around at all the parts not visible/reachable with the wheel there but the nuts are too tight. I'm going to go to the dealership I bought it from and have them take a poke around since I still have a few weeks left on their little used car warranty.

Just for the record, this is a 2002 Mazda Protege 5 SE (I think it's an SE. has the sway bar? in the engine bay) with 50,000km (31,000 miles)

 

[asifmbadar]

The nuts are too tight? -__- You need some Spinach. If your car is under warranty take it to the dealership, but keep an eye on it and dont let them bang you in the bottom with their prices. Have them diagnose it and if they give you a ridiculous price for a part then come back here and we can tell you a better place to get it.

A factory service manual is your friend, you will want to get one if you plan on working on your car.

From the sounds of it, it is definately your suspension. The first thing that came to my mind was a blown shock, but if the car was driven normally then both front shocks should have normal wear and tear on them, but as you said it is just the passenger side front? So it may be a torn bushing, shock mount, or some other culprit related to suspension.

Basically get down there and check whats going on, post a couple of pics, I will try to help you out as well as the other guys on here.

PS - In the meantime.. I wouldn't drive the car TOO hard, take it easy on the turns and rough roads until you get the problem fixed. Safety first, always.

 

[NJP5Guy]

probably a worn sway bar link. and so you know that is a strut brace thats in the engine. the protege5 is just that, a protege5. the SE was only for the sedan.

welcome to the forum.

 

[ScaryFast]

Thanks for the info, guys. I should have snapped as many pictures as I could when I get the car lifted before but I was focussing on trying to get that wheel off. I tried the wrench that came with the car and the arm is way too short for me to get any leverage. I borrowed a big one from my dad but neither of the ends on it fit the nuts on my car so I tried the other again and gave up. With the car on the ground I can't really get my camera in there to take any blind shots either.

I should still have 2 weeks left on my warranty from the used-car dealership so hopefully they'll be able to find out the cause and fix it. I only wish I had heard the noise in my test drives, because then they would have fixed it before I took the car in the first place.

 

[Diehonda]

Thanks for the info, guys. I should have snapped as many pictures as I could when I get the car lifted before but I was focussing on trying to get that wheel off. I tried the wrench that came with the car and the arm is way too short for me to get any leverage.

Get a metal tube to slide over the car's lug wrench. Usually about 2 foot long or more. Always handy on bolts that don't want to come off. You will be able to use it on a ratchet also so it will be very beneficial to have around. I think I have about five in different lengths.


I responded to you int he other thread but I would thinkt hat it is either the strut mount or sway bar bushing.

Welcome to the forum (drive2)

 

[ScaryFast]

Get a metal tube to slide over the car's lug wrench. Usually about 2 foot long or more.

considered it already, just don't have any metal tubes kicking around, haha.

 

[Omar MSP]

i had a similar problem on my speed... but mines was a little bit worse... it did it on mostly every little bump, fast corners, bumpy corners...

all it was, well... one thing, the least thing i'd expect...

Motor Mount... WD 40 pwned the sounds... drives like new, no sounds... no nothing... but in your case, u might need a whole new one... i dunno, look into it...

 

[Diehonda]

considered it already, just don't have any metal tubes kicking around, haha.

Wouldn't cost much to have one cut at a hardware store(poke)

 

[ScaryFast]

Problem Solved!

I brought the car into the dealership I got it from today and they had it all day. When I got there the guy waved me into the garage, saying he had to show me something. He went over to a table, grabbed a small object, and handed it to me. It was a 1" by 1/2" rock with one slightly concave and smooth side.

Apparently this rock somehow got wedged between the sway bar and sub-frame (I think this is what he said, I might have the wrong parts confused). Every time I hit a big enough bump or drove aggressively the bar would twist, grinding the rock against itself and the sub frame, causing the "clunking" noise which I guess was actually a grinding noise. grinding, clunking, whatever

Car doesn't make a peep now and I'm very happy. I thought it would be something more serious.

 

[joka1]

congrats on ur purchase and finding the problem. welcome to the forum also.

rob

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I had something like that happen only it was a rock between the heat shield & the body underneath the resonator section of exh pipe. Drove me nuts trying to find WTF part of the exhaust was rattling. Luckily I eventually found it myself tho. Hope they didn't charge ya much to find it.

 

[ScaryFast]

they didn't charge me anything. they told me they'd take care of me when I bought the car and they seem to be doing so. The first night I drove the car I discovered a burned out headlight and called to ask them if they sold them, and they told me to just stop by and they'd replace it for me free. Thought maybe this was their fault for not checking it before I took possession, I don't know.

 

[Protege52003]

considered it already, just don't have any metal tubes kicking around, haha.

you can actually use the load bars off your P5! done it before.......