MS3 Loose Stabilizer Bar Nut - Clunks from the rear

[User Name]

I too have had a rear end clunk when going over bumps. I just went out and checked this and sure enough the passenger side bolt/nut was loose. I've tightened it up now, no loc-tite as I don't have any, so I'll report if the clunk is still there or not later.

edit. Just got back from a quick drive, no clunking at all. I hope it stays gone. I work at a railway so I'll see how it sounds tomorrow driving over the rails.

edit #2. Still no clunking today. If you have it, definitely check your sway bar nuts & bolts.

 

[blacksheepms3]

I had clunking too. made an appointment with mazda to get it checked, but I'm afraid they might void my warranty for suspension cause I put in H&R lowering springs. Can they take care of the clunking without voiding my warranty?

 

[Jays07MS3]

I too have the clunking sound coming from the rear. Good thing I saw this thread. I'm going out to check it first thing tomorrow.

 

[vimo19]

I have the same noise but I have a regular 2004 Mazda 3 hatch.

 

[Jays07MS3]

Yeah its not sublte at all. I notice mine but it was right around the time I put my toolbox in the trunk. At first I thought my tools were banging around so I took them out. Still got the clunk. My girlfriend noticed it too. Until I read this thread, I had no idea what it could be. Glad I caught it in time before the nut backed itself all the way off.

EDIT: Why did my post get put way up here? It says I posted it at 8:19am but its really was 1:19pm. Oh well.

 

[Jays07MS3]

Sure enough, my right side was loose. I didn't have any loctite so I'll have to buy some and apply it later but at least that clunking noise is gone.

 

[blkMs3th]

Heard the sound on Wednesday evening, just as described by Rotus. Brought it in this morning and and the bolt re tightened. When I asked the tech why it occurred he said he was unsure, when I asked what was to stop it from occurring again he gave me a blank look until we both laughed a bit.

 

[Kosh]

Good thing to check when I get home. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[camrycev6]

I don't hear anything that sounds "bad", but since I don't know what to listen for, I have no idea if I am missing it. I assume this sound is unmistakeable?

 

[blkMs3th]

I was driving on rough and crappy SF road and it sounded like there was a metal object bouncing around a littlr (the jack was my first thought, just like rotus says). Once I noticed it, it was obvious over that type of road. Smooth surface (including speed bumps straight on) does not create the conditions for it (for my car anyway).
My wife immediately noticed it as well (I tend to be more aware of the car), so I think you have a good chance of hearing it. I caught mine (I think) pretty much as it first started making sounds.

 

[camrycev6]

Thanks...I am pretty aware of how my car sounds, so as long as it is not subtle, I shouldn't miss it.

 

[Xboaty]

If this isn't a lifesaver......
I thought the suspension was falling apart as I was driving the other night. Sounded like the shock was going to come through the back end. Crawled under the car and sure enough, passenger side sway bar nut was loose. Tightened it up and no more "clunk".

 

[snookwheel]

1,300 miles on my MSP3. The rear clunk started today! Happened upon this post about 1/2 hour ago. Yep.... Passenger side anti-swaybar link bolt was loose. Tightened it up, used red loctite and clunk over bumps is GONE!

Thanks Guys!!!

 

[camrycev6]

Msp3?

 

[Jays07MS3]

I have had my speed for about a month and have been hearing a clunking noise sometimes from the rear over bumps. I found the jack could move around but I fixed that and the clunk was still there. So I finally jacked it up and crawled underneath today to find the bolt on the stabilizer (anti-roll) bar right side link was completely loose! The nut was half way off the threads, I am surprised it didn't come all the way off - probably would have in a few more miles.

My manual says it should be torqued to 40 ft-lbs, so I try to tighten it and the nut won't tighten up. The threads on the stud are boogered up from banging around in the hole in the stabilizer bar. So I removed the link and had to repair the threads with a thread die. It's all back together now so I think it's cool, I will know for sure next time I drive it up a bumpy road.

Moral of the story - don't ignore clunks from your suspension; get it checked out before it boogers up the threads, or something worse.

Same thing happened to me. I've tightened the nut 3 times in the past few weeks and finally it wouldn't tighten again (should have bought some loctite ). So I took it into the dealer today and they ordered me a new linkage bolt and lock nut. They said it would take 2-3 days. So yeah, just at the OP said,

don't ignore clunks from your suspension; get it checked out before it boogers up the threads, or something worse

 

[rodney]

been hearing a nasty clunking noise i mean freakin annoying clunking noise and check that right side swaybar nut and it was hand tightened, i could just loosen it with my hand literaly. so i tightened it down to 40ft1b and drove and never heard the noise again.

 

[Engineer420]

I had a Loose Stabilizer Bar Nut last week..was driving me crazy..the right bolt was so loose it was pretty much off..seems like they didn't come from the factory torqued right cuz im the second person ay my dealer with the same problem thesame right bolt.. as I just saw this post tonight

 

[jam_asian85]

I had a Loose Stabilizer Bar Nut last week..was driving me crazy..the right bolt was so loose it was pretty much off..seems like they didn't come from the factory torqued right cuz im the second person ay my dealer with the same problem thesame right bolt.. as I just saw this post tonight

did you happen to go to Ocean Mazda with your problem ???

 

[billyrohm]

Checked mine today due to the clunk, the drivers side was loose on mine, threads stripped, sweet, taking it to the dealer tomorrow, loaner here I come.

 

[mPs689]

Has anybody experienced this clunk from the front especially if you move over a speed bump fast or slow