HORRIBLE crunching/creeking noise from suspension on my Speed!!?!?

[Je5ter]

This is probably more for people who live in colder areas up north or in Canada. Now that the temperature is getting below freezing every morning when I first start my car and drive over the speeds bumps in my parking lot the suspension makes this horrible crunching noise like the shocks are frozen. I can even hear it over certain bumps on the road too until the car seems to warm up, about 5 mins or so. My old 3 Sedan never made this sound in colder temps but I don't know if its normal to the stiffer Speed 3 suspension?? Anyone else notice this??

 

[sleeper3]

I don't know what you're talking about but God that car looks sexy in white.

 

[BluMicaR]

Look under the rear passenger side and check the swaybar linkage nuts&bolts. Has been an undercurrent issue of the nut coming loose and causing all kinds of problems.

 

[User Name]

I'm in Vancouver and my other car makes suspension noises when it's cold out. I always assumed it had something to do with the rubber bushings getting harder, or a lack of grease, or something along those lines. The noise would always go away after a few km so I never worried about it. Having said all that, haven't heard it on the MS3 yet.

 

[saskmp3]

I have the same problem with my MS3. It starts around -15 degrees C and the colder it is, the louder it gets. Yesterday it was -24 C here and the car sounded terrible. My old MP3 was the same, except the creaking started at around 0 C.

 

[6262MS3]

I've also noticed this, it's completely different from the rear swaybar clunk (going in on tuesday to get that fixed). Whenever it gets below -15C or so the front suspension sounds like something is binding/rubbing like crazy, it goes away once the car warms up. I'm going to ask the dealer about it next week. Kinda sucks right now, with the rsb issue, frozen front suspension and an annoying dash rattle (hopefully also to be fixed tuesday) my 6 month/7500 kms old ms3 sounds 10 times junkier than my 13 year/248000kms old 626 did. Hopefully it'll all get sorted and I can be happy again.

 

[Je5ter]

Let me know about what they say about the suspension noise.. Its freezing cold here and the sound last for longer.. I cant take it anymore!!

 

[6262MS3]

lol, calgary represent! I have a heated garage (yes I'm a lucky bastard) so I've only had to deal with the creaking after work and band practices. I'll post what I find out from the dealer.

 

[hashboogie]

I've been dealing w/ this the last couple of days. It sends a chill down my spine everytime I go over a bump....UGH

 

[Je5ter]

I called the dealer yesterday but the tools never called me back.. I'll have to try again tomorrow.....

 

[6262MS3]

I called the dealer yesterday but the tools never called me back.. I'll have to try again tomorrow.....

Which dealer do you go through? I've dealing with North Hill Mazda (work's right across the street, which is kinda handy). Their service isn't as good as it was 4 years ago, I think the labor shortage has really taken it's toll.

 

[Je5ter]

Which dealer do you go through? I've dealing with North Hill Mazda (work's right across the street, which is kinda handy). Their service isn't as good as it was 4 years ago, I think the labor shortage has really taken it's toll.

Yea I deal with them as well and their service sucks ass but its the closest dealer to work.. I have an appointment on the 11th for the noise and the ECU recall.

 

[6262MS3]

Hmm, I mentioned this issue to my dealer today, they said it was from the front suspension bushings. The ms3 uses stiffer bushings and they get noisy in the cold. There's not really anything they can do, it's just annoying, not damaging. I'm not sure I believe it, but I'm no auto genius and all of my previous cars were super old with oatmeal for bushings. Has anyone ever had noise issues in the cold with any other sporty car?

 

[Je5ter]

Well the noise comes from the front and rear suspension and if they tell me there is nothing they can do they are going to get an ear full from me.. It sounds like I"m driving a god damn tank every time the temp. drops below -5 I WILL NOT put up with it for six months of the year every year.. My only worry is that if I b**** too much about it they will replace the bushings with regular 3 bushings and I'll loose some of the handling due to a softer suspension???

 

[Mattw_43]

I'm spending the winter here in lovely Winnipeg and I've also noticed the same problem. I'm picking up some floor mats from the dealer Saturday and I will mention the crunching, maybe with enough of us asking something will get done.

 

[bacarl]

any videos of the noise? In my (limited) experience bushings squeak in the cold. It's a "stick/slip" condition though that perhaps sounds more like a crunch when transmitted through the car's body / structure.

If it's repeatable all the time it's doubtful that it's ice build-up; also if it's repeatable at least the dealership won't be able to claim they couldn't reproduce the noise.

Part of my job does entail troubleshooting squeaks and rattles in new vehicles in an environmental test chamber (cold-soaks to -20F) but every car behaves differently so just because I've heard things on some cars doesn't mean it jives with what you've all got.

 

[7red7]

The sound you're hearing is more than likely coming from the front control arms/bushings...All of us Mazda 5 owners have this same issue when the temps drop...Depending on how long it takes for things to warm up below your car, the sound and clunking will usually disappear after you drive a while...Given that it's snowing and the temps are in the negatives where you're at, it is probably lasting a lot longer everyday than you'd like...

There is a TSB for replacement bushings and control arms for the 5...I'm assuming you could easily have the TSB performed for a MZ3 or MS3 as well...The sad thing is, if you really are suffering from the front clunking sound, the new parts that are available are not a guaranteed fix...There are quite a few 5 owners who have had the work done, and the noises have returned with the cold weather...Try having a service tech lube the hell out of the bushings to see if that stops the noise...It's not a permanent fix, but it will give you a good idea if what you're hearing is coming from the front or rear suspension...

Best of luck to you and your MS3...I definitely agree with the above statement that it looks sexy as hell in white

 

[freakyflow7]

hey guys,, I'm from calgary too and I also own a sexy white MSZPD 3

Anyway..

I also have that freaking crunching noise its driving me absolutely crazy. I'm
kind of afraid to take it to the dealer because they're all so friggin sketchy.
Anyway, its so annoying but yeah it does go away as soon as it warms up which takes about 5 mins. The colder it is the louder it gets. As *if* they can't do anything about it?! My 14 year old Prelude didn't do that when it was -30 out.

What ECU recall?!??! I didn't hear about this.

I need to take it in soon for "dealer service".. i hate dealerships. Its too bad I love the car so much.

 

[Je5ter]

hey guys,, I'm from calgary too and I also own a sexy white MSZPD 3

Anyway..

I also have that freaking crunching noise its driving me absolutely crazy. I'm
kind of afraid to take it to the dealer because they're all so friggin sketchy.
Anyway, its so annoying but yeah it does go away as soon as it warms up which takes about 5 mins. The colder it is the louder it gets. As *if* they can't do anything about it?! My 14 year old Prelude didn't do that when it was -30 out.

What ECU recall?!??! I didn't hear about this.

I need to take it in soon for "dealer service".. i hate dealerships. Its too bad I love the car so much.

Damn, I thought I was the only white on in town.. Well that i have seen anyways.... Umm I'm taking it in Tuesday morning.. I'll let you know what I hear

 

[freakyflow7]

Hey Je5ter, I have only ever seen one other one. And it is right by my work, 12th ave and 13th street sw. Is that you?

If not, then there are 3 in the city that I know of. I really love it. I have my rims off right now so it looks the same as a mazda 3 and for some reason people always take off on me. Then its a surprise when they figure out its a speed hehehee..

Anyways.. yes please post I will check the post tomorrow.

Also.. ECU recall?