Does your MSP Clunk?

[LazerBlueP5]

Ok this may sound "too easy" of an explanation but have you guys checked the location of your lug wrench in the trunk. Sometimes it's located along with the jack in the rear side pocked/holder. If it's in there there's no bracing for it and when the car jumps it clunks against the metal in the rear (even IN the soft carpeted covering). Worth a try.

 

[gaZOOM-ZOOM]

damn you mazda, damn you.

:'( :'( : Need some tissue?

 

[Dexter]

:'( :'( : Need some tissue?

not really, but thanks?

 

[Newf]

LazerBlueP5

I'm afraid it ain't that simple eh!

 

[mazdadan]

OK, perhaps a dumb question, but why can't we just fabricate our own bar/links/bushings or whatever it takes to solve the problem? If the bushings keep wearing out, could a large bearing be used instead? Does anyone have a picture of the individual pieces of the rear sway?

This is exactly what I did. It cost about 15 bucks for the Energy Suspension bushings and about 40 bucks to fabricate stronger end links. If you do a search, there are some pictures I previously posted of the rear undercarriage, along with pictures other people have posted.

 

[Newf]

mazdadan, Good idea, but why are you sure it will work? You don't have an MP3 or speed.

 

[mazdadan]

mazdadan, Good idea, but why are you sure it will work? You don't have an MP3 or speed.

I have a larger diameter sway bar (19mm AWR) than stock. The noises and clunks got worse after changing to this bar. All of the mounting locations for the rear sway bars are identical on the ES, P5, MP3, MSP. The MP3 and the MSP have stronger end link mounts on the struts.

 

[Dexter]

interesting. where did you get them made?

 

[mazdadan]

interesting. where did you get them made?

I fabricated everything myself. The end links are constructed with rod ends purchased from www.tperformance.com The direct link to the rod ends is http://www.tperformance.com/street_rod_store/5000/228/?CFID=212554&CFTOKEN=70191849

I used (2) 3/8 LH female rod ends and (2) 3/8 RH female rod ends.

Then I purchased some 3/8" stainless threaded rod from www.use-enco.com

The sway bar bushings I used were energy suspension greasables, which were purchased from www.summitracing.com

To get the correct angles for the sway bar bushings, I took the AWR aluminum mounting brackets and chopped them in half.

Once the weather warms up around here and I have extra time, I will try and get some pics.

 

[DooMer_MP3]

Not to be an ass, but WOOHOO! More people with da clunk! Now maybe with all of these people bitching Mazda will be forced to do something else.

MAZDADAN: You could also probably mass produce these and make a killing off of us and/or Mazda themselves!

Chris

 

[andr3w]

OK, OK. I think I got the clunk too. 1000 miles, a little colder than average and heard it going 10 or so over a ramp. Nice.

 

[JonnyMiata]

So all you MP3 guys......I am assuming that the clunk will get better in the warmer weather. Is this true or will it still be there in the middle of summer? I plan on taking this problem to the 3 Mazdaspeed dealers in my area and see what each one of them has to say about it.

Thanks,

Jonny

 

[Newf]

Mine didn't change at all throughout the summer. Actually, mine gets worse in the summer because it rains more, and it seems when it rains a lot, the bushings get wet and slip. At least in the winter here, the damn thing is all frozen stiff

 

[jroof]

Alright, I'm f'ing pissed. I have 350 miles on my damn car and I can't go over an uneven bump without it sounding as though there's a dead body in the trunk. This is absolutely unacceptable. It's not as though this problem developed a year after driving the car hard. 350 miles! Still in the freaking break in period! Replacing the bushings every month is not a solution. I realize that everyone has gone through this reaction but something has to be done. Has anyone attempted to contact auto publications? There needs to be plenty of bad press about this. Mazda has got to come up with some sort of a fix. Did they even road test these f'ing things? Newf, it looks like I'm beginning my odessey into fixing the f'ing clunk.

 

[JonnyMiata]

I was thinking about calling Racing Beat about this since they did all the suspension tuning and see what they suggest. Has anyone tried to call them? I have spoken to Jim Langer there and he seems to be pretty knowledgeable.

I am with you jroof, this is unacceptable. I wrote a nasty note to Mazda in my customer survey about this clunk. I doubt anyone there will care. I am president of the local Miata club and have been for years. I have convinced many people to buy Miatas and even other Mazda cars but after this ordeal I have my doubts.

Jonny

 

[Grimace]

Jonny, see this thread in the MP3 forum - http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11460

I think it would help if the Mazdaspeed guys and galls got behind this action too. Not only does it reflect badly on Mazda, but it also reflects badly on Racing Beat too, even if Mazda did ultimately cheap-out in the end with cheaper end links than Racing Beat proposed in their design work. (Well, that's the rumour anyway).

 

[jroof]

Check out the thread Grimace linked to to read an update from Racing Beat. I spoke to them a minute ago. There's no immediate solution but hopefully there's one in the works.

 

[Grimace]

Thanks jroof. If we all keep it up, eventually SOMETHING will have to be done, either by Mazda or Racing Beat. I don't mind paying a little for a fix, as long as it is a permenant fix.

 

[AGR]

No 'clunk' here yet (875 miles), but I did notice something like that with my '99 Nissan Sentra SE Limited. And; I thought it was the spare tire being loose, but it wasn't. So I never really figured that out. That's the car I traded for the MSP.

Cheers!

 

[Newf]

AGR, That's what it sounds like at first......

beware, it is coming!