Mazda5 new owner's concerns.

[racielrod]

Hello!

I bought a 2006 Mazda 5 with 100k miles on it for my wife. She is loving the car.
I took the car for a pre-purchase inspection and they said the car is in great condition BUT "Rear spring work is recommended, Estimate work $300".

My main questions/concerns on day 2 of having the car:

1) Maintenance schedule: I read the manual and there are 2 schedules there, but none of them goes beyond 100k miles, what should I follow? Is there any schedule you guys recommend?

2) Regarding the problem reported in the PPI; I CAN feel the noise coming from the rear suspension, and I would believe I can feel it in the front too. I call the dealer again for them to put in simple words what this work they recommend is and this is what I got:

"The rubber support on the strut needs to be replaced" And they also mentioned something about... welding? maybe?

I hate noise suspensions, if the work is easy and there is a how to I can get the parts and do it myself. Any recommendations about what their recommendation and how to address it?

Any good site with OEM parts?

Thanks!
R.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Hello and welcome to new used car ownership. The core powertrain on this car is pretty sound and reliable (cough *old). As with any car past 100K, you can expect to do some maintenance/overhaul but it should last you fine.
1) If you must follow a schedule, just repeat the same schedule by adding 100K in front of the next interval. Are you a ‘preventative maintenance’ kinda person or ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ type?
2) Rear shocks and bushings are notorious failure points on this car. Take some time to read the how-to and suspension sub-section. Both are easy and doable DIY tasks, total parts should ve <$100.
www.rockauto.com for your replacement needs.

Have fun and let us know how things go.

 

[Davebert]

The noise from the rear spring can be the spring has shifted and it is off its seat. This is a common problem and there is a service bulletin on it. On my 2006, the mechanic just moved it back in place and it is still in place 3 years later. However, rear noises can also be cause the sway bar components, the bushing is usually the culprit. These are DIY fixes as long as you have a jack and a couple of good jack stands to support the car properly while you can working under it.

 

[racielrod]

Thanks for your quick response.
I'm more preventive and definitely a DIY person, I have no problems buying the parts and doing the work.
Thanks again!

 

[racielrod]

I was reading this TSB:

http://www.justanswer.com/car/1rekv-2007-mazda-noisy-suspension-squeaking-crunching.html

And between the possible causes I found one that MIGHT be what the tech in the dealer referred to:


"- The right rear coil spring has shifted in the spring seat rubber and/or upper spring pocket in the rear crossmember and causing the spring to rub against the crossmember. This noise will most likely occur with the rear seat occupied, and can sound like a knock when going over a bump or a rattle when driving at a steady speed over uneven road surfaces. The problem is the arc-welding bead in the spring pocket on the crossmember where it makes contact with the spring seat rubber is protruding too much, causing the spring seat rubber to be pushed out of position."

 

[thaxman]

As great as the Mz5 is many aspects, the suspension will always be my underbreath grumble. Lousy OEM struts up front, worthless shock options in the rear, camber/toe-in issues around back and sway bar bushings all around that leave a lot to be desired. But when all the parts are new, it feels soo good when you make insane left turns that make Toyota-driving Grammas swear like a sailor.

 

[racielrod]

Thanks! Do you have any specific/killer part replacements combinations? Bushings, struts, shocks? Thanks in advanced!

 

[skyhawk]

I have the mazda5 2006GT. The suspension noise will sound like a rubber rubbing on a metal -- which I suspect is the rubber mount holding the stabilizer bar. Actually I have confirmed the sound to be coming from it... I soaked the bushing with silicon lube spray and the noise will disappear for a while. Depending on the humidity the noise will come and go.

I just replaced the rear shocks. And the car feels new again. It's amazing how after 5 years the old shocks wears itself
and we hardly notice the ride that's getting bouncy.

 

[skyhawk]

I have the mazda5 2006GT. The suspension noise will sound like a rubber rubbing on a metal -- which I suspect is the rubber mount holding the stabilizer bar. Actually I have confirmed the sound to be coming from it... I soaked the bushing with silicon lube spray and the noise will disappear for a while. Depending on the humidity the noise will come and go.

I just replaced the rear shocks. And the car feels new again. It's amazing how after 5 years the old shocks wears itself
and we hardly notice the ride that's getting bouncy.

 

[racielrod]

I bought the front and rear bushings as well as the rear sway bar end links from the dealer and a friend replaced all these parts. It is AMAZING how good the car feels now.
The work is easy to do, except for the front bushings, and definitely a DIY.

I was thinking on buying polyurethane bushings but my friend told me Mazda upgraded the bushings and I should be good fine for a lot of miles now.