2013~2016 Inspecting and Re-Torquing my CX-5 Lower Control Arms

[ColoradoDriver]

Hi all,

I replaced my front lower control arms back in the summer of 2024. One thing I am noticing is I am hearing a slight creaking noise.

It was my first time doing such a job and for the life of me I can't remember if I remembered to raise the knuckle to ride height before torquing everything down.

I don't have a place where I currently reside to work on this kind of job, but will get access to a family member's garage tomorrow. I need to take all 4 brakes / rotors off and see about cleaning the wheel hubs because of some vibrations I am getting when braking. Rotors all feel smooth and pads plenty thick, so thought clean up the hubs and regrease the slide pins on the calipers just to be safe. While I was at it, was thinking of loosening and then re-torquing both lower control arms (with knuckle raised to ride height) because I am just second guessing myself now and what I did in 2024. Also gives me a chance to inspect the bushings and hopefully they are in ok condition if I did screw it up.

So my question is: I seem to be finding conflicting info on bolt torque specs aside from the bolt and nut securing the ball joint (seems to be around 30 ft lb). Does anyone have any info for the remaining bolts?

Secondly, since I would be touching the suspension, guessing would have to get an alignment done again?

 

[HyFlyer]

Looks like ...
158 - 191 FT-LBS for the horizontal bolt
103 - 124 FT-LBS for the shorter vertical bolt
101 - 126 FT-LBS for the longer vertical bolt

https://mazdamanuals.com.au/wsm-secure/WSM/D9F2-1A-25A/

I wouldn't think you'd be changing any alignment specs just by re-torquing the bolts.

Also, I don't see how it would make any difference if there was weight on the suspension when torquing the vertical bolts.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Looks like ...
158 - 191 FT-LBS for the horizontal bolt
103 - 124 FT-LBS for the shorter vertical bolt
101 - 126 FT-LBS for the longer vertical bolt

https://mazdamanuals.com.au/wsm-secure/WSM/D9F2-1A-25A/

I wouldn't think you'd be changing any alignment specs just by re-torquing the bolts.

Also, I don't see how it would make any difference if there was weight on the suspension when torquing the vertical bolts.

View attachment 381046

Thank you!

Well will see how it looks. Something is creaking down there. Suppose it could be something else.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Guess it was fine. All the bushings look to be in great shape. No idea what's creaking. I still loosened and re-torqued the 158-191 ft lb horizontal bolts with the wheels at ride height for good measure.

 

[N7turbo]

When does the creaking happen?

 

[ColoradoDriver]

When does the creaking happen?

When I go over small bump like a parking lot speed bump for instance, or a small dip is when its most pronounced. Sometimes I hear it when slow speed turning too.

 

[Lazy2.5]

Could be sway bar bushings too.

I would consider also checking the balance of your wheels/tires to ensure that's not contributing (or causing) the wobble.

 

[bdc101]

This is a common problem with Mazda6s of the same vintage. (Mine is a 2015 and has been doing it for 5 years or so)

I only have 98k miles and have never replaced any suspension parts or even taken them off. You hear a lot of complaints on the Mazda6 forum about the same thing. Some say it's a wheel bearing, some say it's the control arm or the bushings, some say it's the strut mount. I've never been able to hear the noise by doing anything I can do on jack stands in the garage. And it doesn't bug me enough to start throwing parts at it. Anyways, if you figure anything out I'll be here to benefit from your hard work

 

[ColoradoDriver]

This is a common problem with Mazda6s of the same vintage. (Mine is a 2015 and has been doing it for 5 years or so)

I only have 98k miles and have never replaced any suspension parts or even taken them off. You hear a lot of complaints on the Mazda6 forum about the same thing. Some say it's a wheel bearing, some say it's the control arm or the bushings, some say it's the strut mount. I've never been able to hear the noise by doing anything I can do on jack stands in the garage. And it doesn't bug me enough to start throwing parts at it. Anyways, if you figure anything out I'll be here to benefit from your hard work

Will do. Strut mounts got replaced shortly after the lower control arms, and end links, when I had the struts replaced.

Edit: Noticed I can replicate clunking noise when stopped and moving steering wheel back and forth. Tie rods maybe?