Groaning from rear suspension

[mcstark]

Within the last week I've noticed groaning from my rear suspension any time it moves. Initially I thought my rear wheel nuts weren't snugged up, but they were fine. Then I check the muffler, and it's solid. When I open the hatch and push down I get probably 3-4 inches of movement and the same groaning sound from both sides. I know the back end is a little soft, but is it just a lubrication issue or is something in need of replacement? I'm not aware of it bobbing excessively so I think the shocks are okay. Kinda sounds like I'm driving an old bus.

I'm going on a 900 mile round trip journey on Friday, so need to get on this ASAP.

My searches turned up nothing for the rear suspension, so I'm at a loss.

Thanks for any input!

BTW, only 52,000 miles on my car.

 

[mcstark]

Just a quick update: spoke with my mechanic this morning and he said with the road salt we have in Western New York and the sh!t rubber and bushings that manufacturers use on suspension, it's a typical noise. So tonight I'll be pulling the rear wheels, making sure nothing is broken, and soaking all the rubber parts with silicone spray.

It rides exactly the same as new, just noisier now. This may be the year I tackle the suspension on my car -- if I'm replacing the bump stops and perches, I might as well add lowering springs and new shocks, right???

So far this is the first real issue I've had with my Mazda. Gotta keep in it now...I want another 200k miles out of this car.

 

[P-Funk!]

Just a quick update: spoke with my mechanic this morning and he said with the road salt we have in Western New York and the sh!t rubber and bushings that manufacturers use on suspension, it's a typical noise. So tonight I'll be pulling the rear wheels, making sure nothing is broken, and soaking all the rubber parts with silicone spray.

It rides exactly the same as new, just noisier now. This may be the year I tackle the suspension on my car -- if I'm replacing the bump stops and perches, I might as well add lowering springs and new shocks, right??? Yep. Best solution for your problem!

So far this is the first real issue I've had with my Mazda. Gotta keep in it now...I want another 200k miles out of this car.

 

[mcstark]

Swapped to my summer tires, and the groan still exists -- needed to do it anyway. The underside of the car was caked with road salt, so my little Mazda gets a bath tomorrow. Maybe that's the cause?

After the was the groaning is worse. Thought the back brakes might be rubbing, but something wasn't quite right about that theory. So, I poked my head under the car and had my wife push down on the inside of the hatch...survey sez:

Sway bar bushings. The groan like mofo's. Taking the Mazda on a roadtrip tomorrow, so the fix will have to wait until later. I think it's time to get rid of the stock rubber bushings. Would urethane be better, or should I just get stock replacements and use a quality synthetic grease on them?

 

[wiprotege5]

I have the same problem i think. Every time I come to a stop, or begin to go, I hear a low pitch noise, err or groaaaaa from the rear. I also hear it when I lift the rear end up a little. Did you have the same and what did you do. I too live in an area of road salt galore (good ol WI)

 

[mcstark]

It was/is definitely the sway bar. I couldn't get the whole bar off -- end link bolts are rusted on. I got the rear end up in the air, removed the bushings, greased and reinstalled them. Now the driver's side end link groans. I need to loosen it a little, which is all I can do, and hose it down with some white lithium grease.

The bushings were the primary culprit -- only I notice the end link groaning now.

 

[wiprotege5]

Was there any signs of wearing or did they look like any other rubber mount thingy?

 

[Crazee D]

I got the "squeaky bed" sounds fixed by re-lubing my AWR trailing arm bushings.