Nliiitend1
Member
I still get it every once in a while from the left front when the suspension is loaded (i.e., making a right hand turn, usually a sweeper), but it's not happening often enough for me to want to take things apart yet.
Popping Noise When Turning
- Thread starter Hank3
- Start date
Take your car to a large open parking lot, put it in first gear (or reverse if that's when it happens more commonly) and let the car roll along slowly. Then turn the wheel from lock to lock and listen for your popping noise. If the strut bearing is binding up, doing that should make the noise pretty repeatably.
FYI, the strut bearing is just a low-speed bearing that allows the strut to pivot about its vertical axis when you turn the wheels. The strut is bolted to both the body and to the steering knuckle, so if there were no bearing it would wind up torsionally and probably snap every time you turned your wheels.
However, the bearing is stationary except when you're actually turning the steering wheel, so that's when it will make the most noise. If it pops going straight over a bump or when you're holding a steady arc through a turn it's less likely to be those bearings.
FYI, the strut bearing is just a low-speed bearing that allows the strut to pivot about its vertical axis when you turn the wheels. The strut is bolted to both the body and to the steering knuckle, so if there were no bearing it would wind up torsionally and probably snap every time you turned your wheels.
However, the bearing is stationary except when you're actually turning the steering wheel, so that's when it will make the most noise. If it pops going straight over a bump or when you're holding a steady arc through a turn it's less likely to be those bearings.
Nliiitend1
Member
Take your car to a large open parking lot, put it in first gear (or reverse if that's when it happens more commonly) and let the car roll along slowly. Then turn the wheel from lock to lock and listen for your popping noise. If the strut bearing is binding up, doing that should make the noise pretty repeatably.
FYI, the strut bearing is just a low-speed bearing that allows the strut to pivot about its vertical axis when you turn the wheels. The strut is bolted to both the body and to the steering knuckle, so if there were no bearing it would wind up torsionally and probably snap every time you turned your wheels.
Actually, I think the problem with mine is that sometimes the bearing gets loaded "just right" to make it not spin (or turn, that is), which then binds (momentarily) the spring. I think the popping/clunk sound is from when the spring unbinds as the bearing becomes free again.
The thing is, that "just right" loading of the bearing only happens in certain situations...
MikeHTally
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Speed3, 2006 Chrysler 300C, 2003 Ram 1500
Usually that's an indication of a bad cv joint, but that failure takes a lot of miles.
Nliiitend1
Member
I can assure you that I know what a bad CV joint is like. That is definitely NOT my problem, as it is happens independent of power application. It's definitely suspension mediated, not driveline mediated.
Also, this happens to me maybe once or twice a month, and is not easily reproduceable at this point...
That doesn't sound at all like the OP's situation...
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Your problem may be the endlinks
DublinDapper
Member
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- 08.5 Black Mica Mazdaspeed 3
I get that popping noise when i turn hard, I only get it when turning into a parking space though.
DublinDapper
Member
- :
- 08.5 Black Mica Mazdaspeed 3
Very!!!!
madvillian
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3
this happens to me as well when the wheel is turned all of the way to the right when im backing out of the driveway in the morning. it happened on my '07 mazda3 wagon as well, and my wife's '07 mazda3 sedan too.
Ok, so I was having the same issue about the popping or pinging noise when turning tight turns. Also when standing still I would turn the wheel all the way to the left *POP* and then turn all the way back to the right *POP*. Took the car to the dealership and they told me that i had broke my strut mount. At first they told me that it was not covered under warranty. I gave them hell because i have only beendriving this car for 5000 miles since i bought it used and at that time it had 28000 miles on it. Eventually it got tossed up to Mazda corporate and they ended up coveringit under warranty. So....... they replaced the strut and shock for me, on the work order they gave me it said Strut bearing and shock. they told me strut mount. Anyways, now the *POP* noise is gone. Now all i hear is the hollow tump, tump tump tump tump noise telling me i need new tires. They told me i had less than 20% thread left.
Oh and i live in Maryland where it gets really Effin cold so maybe that was one of the issues too.
Oh and i live in Maryland where it gets really Effin cold so maybe that was one of the issues too.
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- 2010 Mazda5 GT
Thanks for chiming in bman. When I can replicate my popping noise at any given time, I'll be bringing her in for warranty - although it's still pretty regularly. Hopefully it'll be before the 3 yr/36,000 mark.
I hope the noise doesn't come back for you, but if it does for some whacked out reason, please come back and update.
I hope the noise doesn't come back for you, but if it does for some whacked out reason, please come back and update.
DublinDapper
Member
- :
- 08.5 Black Mica Mazdaspeed 3
Yeah, I haven't heard mine is a long time also!