Odd noise in extreme cold

[Rx8Speed6Mazda2]

Whenever the temperature dips below 20 degrees F I get a weird scraping noise from what sounds like my front suspension. Everytime I hit a bump it sounds like plastic scraping on the road. Whats odd is that the noise gets better when the car warms up and only makes the sound going over really rough bumps after that. This morning it was about 5 degrees F and it scraped like crazy until it got warm. I have checked the car out and have found no signs of anything hitting the road and I have just over 10,000 miles on my 2012 Mazda 2. Anyone have any idea what it could possibly be? It's absolutely quiet in normal temperatures.

 

[DrWebster]

Yep, it's a known issue. It can sound either like scraping or, in my case, a creaking sound.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123836317-cold-weather-and-a-strange-noise

 

[Rx8Speed6Mazda2]

I read that thread but wasn't sure my issue was the same. Is there more information on this and how I could fix it? Or is it completely normal?

 

[GrasshopperCO]

I've had that issue too when it's REALLY cold (-15 F or lower). Mine only scrapes for the first couple bumps though, and then it's quiet, just as you described. Until it becomes more frequent and happens in higher temperatures, and it becomes continuous, I'm inclined to say it's just the cold and it's normal. I get more of the scrape than a creaking noise.

Oddly enough, I also have a 2012 '2 with about 15,000 miles on it

 

[genericmoniker]

Very loud scrape here. First few times I heard it I was worried, but chalked it up to cold.

 

[Rx8Speed6Mazda2]

What could it possibly be? I also feel like engine temperature changes the degree of the scrape which perplexes me.

 

[DrWebster]

I suspect it's the same thing that causes the rear shocks to squeak -- whatever that reason is. My best guess is the shock dust cover rubbing against the tube, but I think there's a Mazda TSB about the rears that explains where lubricant can be applied to fix the noise.