crazy noises from suspension

[AccentAE86]

Hey all.

Just picked up a used 2008 5. Holy crap the rear tires are worn on the insides and no tread left. Joining and reading here I guess I'm not alone with that problem.

But one other thing is the noises coming out of the suspension. It creaks, squeaks, and hisses like crazy! It sounds like a rickety old car or something and it's practically new! Not even my 25 year old Corolla makes noises like that.

On every rear suspension compression/rebound cycle, it creaks a lot. When I roll down the windows, I also hear hissing on compression/rebound coming from what I think are the shocks.

Are these noises common on the 5? It's not subtle, it's really noticeable and not ignorable. This is my first mazda so I'm not sure exactly what kind of quality to be expecting from it.

 

[antlind]

Hey all.

Just picked up a used 2008 5. Holy crap the rear tires are worn on the insides and no tread left. Joining and reading here I guess I'm not alone with that problem.

But one other thing is the noises coming out of the suspension. It creaks, squeaks, and hisses like crazy! It sounds like a rickety old car or something and it's practically new! Not even my 25 year old Corolla makes noises like that.

On every rear suspension compression/rebound cycle, it creaks a lot. When I roll down the windows, I also hear hissing on compression/rebound coming from what I think are the shocks.

Are these noises common on the 5? It's not subtle, it's really noticeable and not ignorable. This is my first mazda so I'm not sure exactly what kind of quality to be expecting from it.

I take it you didn't test drive the car before you bought it. The problems you have noted are common.

 

[Davebert]

I was having clucking noise from the driver side rear suspension on my 2006. I thought it was the sway bar link as mention here. I check it out by trying to shake it with my hand to see if the link was worn or loose. But when I grab it, it was nice and solid.

So, I brought the car to a local garage and the guy jack it up and found the following problems.

Loose rear brake pads, They were new, I guess they were not install properly at the dealer. That would also explain why it sounded like the brakes were dragging.

Rear spring was not seat properly. The mechanic say the spring was off of its seat and he had to re-position it.

Bad sway bar bushings. They were worn and needed to be replaced.

All this took only a hour of work. I drop it off at lunch time and was able to pick it up after work the same day. No more rear suspension noise

 

[AIMWO4]

Check the TSBs and search.

You need to get that fixed. It may still make noise in the cold... So expect that. It's the urethane bushings.

You may also have a bad shock. (eek2)

Hey all.

Just picked up a used 2008 5. Holy crap the rear tires are worn on the insides and no tread left. Joining and reading here I guess I'm not alone with that problem.

But one other thing is the noises coming out of the suspension. It creaks, squeaks, and hisses like crazy! It sounds like a rickety old car or something and it's practically new! Not even my 25 year old Corolla makes noises like that.

On every rear suspension compression/rebound cycle, it creaks a lot. When I roll down the windows, I also hear hissing on compression/rebound coming from what I think are the shocks.

Are these noises common on the 5? It's not subtle, it's really noticeable and not ignorable. This is my first mazda so I'm not sure exactly what kind of quality to be expecting from it.

 

[AccentAE86]

I take it you didn't test drive the car before you bought it. The problems you have noted are common.

No, I normally never get to test drive cars before I buy them. They are bought at dealer auctions remotely and I just pick them up after all the paperwork is done.

I just figured Mazda quality would be really good or at least up to par with what I've driven in the past. I'm amazed that all these annoying creaks and squeaks are common on such new vehicles.

I was having clucking noise from the driver side rear suspension on my 2006. I thought it was the sway bar link as mention here. I check it out by trying to shake it with my hand to see if the link was worn or loose. But when I grab it, it was nice and solid.

So, I brought the car to a local garage and the guy jack it up and found the following problems.

Loose rear brake pads, They were new, I guess they were not install properly at the dealer. That would also explain why it sounded like the brakes were dragging.

Rear spring was not seat properly. The mechanic say the spring was off of its seat and he had to re-position it.

Bad sway bar bushings. They were worn and needed to be replaced.

All this took only a hour of work. I drop it off at lunch time and was able to pick it up after work the same day. No more rear suspension noise

Interesting. I tried sparying some lube on where the springs seat, but didn't think to look at the swaybar bushing. I'll take a look at those.

Any other tips that others have found?

 

[AIMWO4]

It's a TSB. Take it in to have them replaced.

No, I normally never get to test drive cars before I buy them. They are bought at dealer auctions remotely and I just pick them up after all the paperwork is done.

I just figured Mazda quality would be really good or at least up to par with what I've driven in the past. I'm amazed that all these annoying creaks and squeaks are common on such new vehicles.



Interesting. I tried sparying some lube on where the springs seat, but didn't think to look at the swaybar bushing. I'll take a look at those.

Any other tips that others have found?

 

[AccentAE86]

It's a TSB. Take it in to have them replaced.

Do you mean this one?

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/mazda5/bulletin/02-001-08-1918.pdf

I just read it and it doesn't seem to apply to 2008 vehicles. I asked about the crazy rear tire wear at my local dealer to see if it was common, and they laughed like I was an idiot. Something tells me I'm not gonna get great service there... (uhm)

 

[Zenderfall]

I too also buy my cars through dealer auctions. Mine has/had the same noises you are experiencing.

The TSB fixes the front "pop pop" noise when going over speedbumps. I switched out the rear shocks when I heard grinding noises when filling the back up with people AND discovered oil dripping down the right rear shock (changed to KYB GR-2 shocks)

Overall, I'm still happy with my Mazda5. I think the build quality is above average (they just sourced some cheap parts is all). I did not pay very much for it and I'm glad. These issues are what cause them to have lower prices at the auctions than other almost comparable Honda's/Toyota's out there.