Letter to Road & Track Technical Correspondence

[jroof]

I've written a letter to R&T concerning the clunk from the suspentions of the MSP and MP3. Hopefully, they can recommend a course of action...

Hello,
I have a 2003 MAZDASPEED Protege. I now have 750 miles on it and have run into what appears to be a design flaw. At about 300 miles, the rear of the car developed a clunk that was noticable over manhole covers especially or whenever the rear suspention was caused to rock back and forth. This clunk got considerably more pronounced as the miles progressed. Apparently, the MP3, with a similar if not identical rear suspention setup, suffers from similar ailments. Mazda has released a TSB for the problem which prescribes replacing the rear sway bar bushings and greasing them. I had this procedure performed on my MAZDASPEED at 500 miles. Now, at 750 miles, I am back where I started with a clunk from my rear suspention every time I go over broken pavement. Mazda has not developed a permanent solution to this problem though many MP3/MSP owners suffer from it as I've found from various internet forums (www.msprotege.com / www.mazdamp3.com) and I find relacing the bushings every 200 miles to be a woefully inadequate short-term solution. Can you recommend a fix and/or course of action to discovering a fix?
Thank you,
Jason, Somerville, MA

 

[SpicyMSP]

nice keep us posted. THANKS !

 

[Dexter]

i have 900 miles and still no clunk....

 

[SpicyMSP]

Yea i have 5000 and no cluck either

 

[jroof]

You're both lucky. But it's not as though I'm making this up; there are plenty of people that do have it.

 

[Dexter]

or maybe i do have and i dont notice it because im driving or listening to music

 

[SpicyMSP]

i know there are, and maybe my radio is up too loud all the time to hear it , LOL. I have heard at least 75 % of MSP owners complain of this "clunk"noise

 

[AGR]

i know there are, and maybe my radio is up too loud all the time to hear it , LOL. I have heard at least 75 % of MSP owners complain of this "clunk"noise

no clunk yet (2,000 miles),,,,,,,,but I got to tell you; it's sometimes nice to turn off the wonderful Kenwood, and just listen to the turbo spool. I love that!!

Oh; did I mention...........

 

[jroof]

I think a lot of it has to do with the location/climate. I live in Boston. It's incredibly cold here and the roads really couldn't be in any worse condition so I am constantly driving over potholes, patches, manhole covers, cracks, etc. In SoCal and Tenn, the weather's a bit kinder and the roads are definitely in better condition.

 

[Dexter]

well im in chicago...

 

[AGR]

well im in chicago...

Yeah! I know you are Dex. Now; are we going to be able to work out an arrangement where you can ship me some Goose Island Beer? I will make it worth your while.

Oh; did I mention............

 

[jroof]

well im in chicago...

Then I guess they gave you the uber-MSP. More power to you and I hope it's never a problem for you.

How's that digital gauge coming along?

 

[1sty]

Music can definitly mask it and for the longest time I thought it might be my sub box or amp rack. Not to mention the clunk doesn't tend to appear as quickly on cars in warmer climates.

Good job on the letter, lets hope we get somewhere.

 

[andr3w]

Clunk at 1000 miles, now at 3300 the squeaks have started. Yes, 3300 miles in 5 weeks (two road trips and 100 miles round trip to commute)

 

[Dexter]

Then I guess they gave you the uber-MSP. More power to you and I hope it's never a problem for you.

How's that digital gauge coming along?

I'm sorry you have the clunk, ill eventually have it, no doubt.

the digital gauge has been sort of replaced, im working on integrating it with an 6.4" LCD touchscreen with Weather forcasts, GPS, Temperature and engine/on board diagnostics.

im still working on how/ where to mount it

 

[Limited Edition]

I get the 'clunk' on my car.....
sucks.

 

[slug420]

i got the clunk, heard it at 500 miles on a dirt road full of potholes, didnt really reappear until 750 or so, and now I can hear it whenever I want to. Usually dont notice it, either because im used to having a car that isnt super quiet, or because i have the radio cranked. Im at like 850/900 miles now, and when I call my dealer for my 1500 mile oil change im going to tell them to order up some new bushings for me too

 

[bellspeed]

I've got 3600 miles on mine and have had the clunk since 500. My clunk is special. It does'nt come and go, it's always clunking down the road....Some cars Bling..Bling ours seem to CLunk..Clunk Ha Ha! Seriously mines going in next week for new bushings and hopefully end links. The tech at the dealer said that it's combination of both. We'll see.