2017~2025 CX-5 Sway bar question

N7turbo

2023 CX-5 2.5T ... 2024 MX-5 RF GT
Those of you who installed aftermarket anti-sway bars: did it eliminate the creaking or popping you get on that first turn out of the driveway? And did you change the bushings?
 
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Can't say that I've found a change in anti-sway bars altering the sounds, at least in the case of that "first turn out of the driveway" sound.

My cars tend to be kept for a good 100-175Kmi, and so these sorts of noises often pop up later in life as the various parts begin to wear.

I've long thought that a first time out of the driveway noise would tend to be tied to the day/night temperature swings, but that's not turned out to be the case in my experience.

With these sorts of creaks and noises, I've generally found them to be involving one or more of the following:

  • Ball joints;
  • Nuts or bolts needing tightening, anywhere along the shock tower (or its anchors);
  • Bolts for the anti-sway bar brackets not tight enough, or the bushings in the anti-sway brackets being worn enough that they're moving.
  • Bushings loose anywhere else throughout the suspension, but typically in the control arms and links.
  • Torque of the various bolts (on arms, links, shock tower) has loosened or is insufficient, causing noises. (LocTite blue/red on nuts or bolts that tend to loosen.)

Of course, in your instance you've had some changes recently made, and your car's relatively newer. But, still, it could be a bushing or ball joint type thing.

The CX-5's also got the shock "bearing" on the front towers. Which can crack and create creaks. Though I'd expect such a creak to occur more frequently than just the first time out in the mornings.

My own CX-5's front ball joints began making occasionaly noises about 18mos ago. It gradually became more frequent, at which point (a couple months back) I had new lower control arms and tie rod ends installed. I wouldn't expect a 2023 model to have these issues yet, unless doing a lot of mileage on rougher roads.

Not a lot of help, I know, but perhaps it will help with ideas of what to look at.
 
Those of you who installed aftermarket anti-sway bars: did it eliminate the creaking or popping you get on that first turn out of the driveway? And did you change the bushings?
I was not aware that there actually existed some brand of aftermarket sway bar for a CX5. Must be a bear to install, as the manual claims you have to lower the sub-frames to do this operation, although I must be honest in saying I've never done this to prove the validity of the manual. Still on my OE set of bushings at 143K kilometers with no issues. What I have done is trashed the factory drop links for stronger, greaseable ones from Beck-Arnley sold at RockAuto. That was 4 years and 90K kilometers ago and I haven't heard a knock out of them. I grease them with a molly grease twice a year. This is generally where the popping sound originates as the OE's plastic socket liner starts to compress and deform. I can on occasion hear the front shocks give off a "gas" sound as they compress and expand over the curb apron at the end of my driveway. As GFrosty stated I believe it to be a great idea to check bolt and nuts torques whenever a weird sound crops up from a particular part of the suspension be it front or rear.
 
Can't say that I've found a change in anti-sway bars altering the sounds, at least in the case of that "first turn out of the driveway" sound.

My cars tend to be kept for a good 100-175Kmi, and so these sorts of noises often pop up later in life as the various parts begin to wear.
It's been happening on brand new Mazdas for years, sadly.
 
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