Thumping Sound and Feeling(like a flat tire) at 30 mph and up.

[mikwhitesheep]

This started yesterday afternoon. All of a sudden my 2003 Mazda Protg 5 Hatchback 4 Door with 4-Cyl. 2.0 Liter Automatic Front Wheel Drive sounds like it has a flat at 35 mph. So we pull over and check the tires. No flat. So we roll the car back and forth check to see if something is stuck to the wheels. Nothing is stuck and the tires look sound. We continue our trip. But the sound keeps reemerging at around 30 to 35 mph. We roll down the windows and drive cannot hear it outside. We roll up the windows and drive and the thumping. As we continue driving, I begin to notice a slight feeling in the steering wheel with the thumping sound. It seem like it is the happening when I get into 3rd and 4th gear not 1st or 2nd gear. What is it? How much is this going to cost?

 

[Hank3]

If it's a rhythmic thump, it sure sounds like it could be something caught in the tread or stuck in the tire. I know you said you checked the tires, but did you check the ENTIRE surface of each tire?

 

[mikwhitesheep]

Yes it is a rythmic thumping after 30 mph not before.
I just went and checked the entire surface of tires for the 5th time since. The tires do not have anything stuck on or in them.

 

[ucMP3]

Wheel bearing is my guess. Check your swaybar endlinks and the bushings/brackets, tie rod ends, etc... But I think you will eventually find that it's your wheel bearing. The thumping will get progressively worse over time.

 

[Justin2129]

Wheel bearing is my guess.

if its not the wheel bearing it could be a flat spotted tire. my p5 was LOUD when it had a flat spot, but now with new tires its great haha

 

[mikwhitesheep]

I can't believe it.

I took my Protege5 to the Midas by my house.

You were all wrong to my relief.

The lug nuts were loose on the driver side wheel. The technician tightened up my lugs nuts for free.

Thanks for all you help and speculations.

Much Appreciated,
Mik.

 

[ucMP3]

Well that's good that it was an easy fix. I assumed you checked the lug nuts upon the first visual inspection for flats, etc...

 

[RMW Guy]

Why were they loose?

Did you recently have work done to the car?

Pi$$ a neighbor off lately?(naughty)

 

[mikwhitesheep]

I think it happened at the Car Dealership Shop.

I had brakes overhauled, coolant flushed and cleaned, Oil, Filter and Lube in the past 6 months.

I really doubt it was an angry neighbor.

 

[AtrociousMazda]

At least that was an easy fix

I had to replace my wheel bearings earlier this year...well, the shop did it, but still...no bueno

 

[ganzhimself]

Yikes, that could have quickly turned into a scary experience... Anytime I go for service I just give the lugs a quick cautionary check, never know. And if the wheel has been off the car, always retighten after 50-100 miles.

 

[obiwan177]

I have the same problem too, except it emerges around 50-60 mph. I can definitely tell it's coming from the front right wheel, but I got the alignment done on it and it didn't fix it. It recently started to get worse, maybe I'll see if I need to tighten up some lugs.