Hi all,
Problem
Lots of creaking coming from rear offside suspension area before and after driving.
Very noticeable when reversing off my very slightly sloping driveway which I have to reverse to the right (right hand down on wheel) - tends to be more of a knocking.
I think it is getting worse or I am noticing it more.
When driving I can hear a higher pitched squeaking noise most of the time - this may or may not be related.
See (and hear) attached MPEG. Picture lousy but sound is just fine.
Details
Suspension is Tein Flex fitted 2005/04/08 (17 months or ~5000 miles ago).
Car was lowered and FEED anti roll-bars fitted 2006/04/25 (5 months ago).
All other parts involved (notably bushes and suspension geometry) are Mazda factory fitted (10 years old).
I started noticing a \'ticking\' sound after coming back from a drive and getting out of the car - this was after car was lowered but I cannot say if it was immeadiatley after or not. I thought it was metal contracting as I had recently had a new exhaust fitted. After trying to detect it today I have realised it is my rear offside suspension creaking when un-compressing. I had just driven the car 0.2 miles ready to wash it.
Pushing down on that side of the car reveals the creaking sound as it compresses and the creaking sound when I let go as it uncompresses.
The same applies to the rear nearside suspension but it is not as noticeable. The front does not exhibit the same problem.
Adjusting the Tein damping does not effect the creaking.
Theories?
I have searched the forum, a couple of people have had similar problems which turned out to be specific dry bushes.
(http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24018&highlight=creaking)
1) Tein Flex suspension damaged - after only 5000 miles?
2) Specific bushes dry - need lubricating.
3) Bushes worn beyond duty.
Can anyone comment?
Thanks in advance.
Chris.
I stumbled across another thread (http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28726) with various links to similar problems over on rx7club.com - reporting more of a knocking than a creaking, although I think mine may be exhibiting the knocking as well. The poster on rx7club finally resolved it but I need to do some more research to figure out what he is talking about (http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=501032&page=4&pp=15 post #58).
It could be the top of your suspension strut knocking against the hole it portrudes through in the top of the rear mounting (under the removable plastic cover). I\'ve had a similar thing with mine of late (not as bad as your mpeg though) but only happend 3 times now. Will probably have the chassis seam wealded and install aftermarket swing arms to fix it, when I win the lottery! I\'ll keep my eyes peeled for any fixs to the prob.
Probably your Feed items causing the problems though so best give them to me!
the handbrake mechanism is really bad on mazdas n mines goes into garge on wed cos i got a creakng noise but when just coming to a hault when braking , im replacing the pin\'s in the calipers
Chris
It sounds similar to the problem I had. see link below
http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29668
When you drive it, does it "knock" as mind did. Perhaps yours has loosened only slightly so you may not get the knock until it loosens more.
Good luck
Quote from: VanChris
It sounds similar to the problem I had. see link below
http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29668
When you drive it, does it "knock" as mind did. Perhaps yours has loosened only slightly so you may not get the knock until it loosens more.
Good luck
I did come across your thread and whilst I was poking around my car I had a cursory look at the 2 locking nuts to see if there was a gap, but there wasn\'t - I was hoping it would be that simple :) I will check again and see if they move. I don\'t think I get the knocking whilst driving. Thanks though.
Just to point out, that video is of my car stationary and me pushing down on the left wing and releasing, I do this twice.
Quote from: Initial-DIt could be the top of your suspension strut knocking against the hole it portrudes through in the top of the rear mounting (under the removable plastic cover). I\'ve had a similar thing with mine of late (not as bad as your mpeg though) but only happend 3 times now. Will probably have the chassis seam wealded and install aftermarket swing arms to fix it, when I win the lottery! I\'ll keep my eyes peeled for any fixs to the prob.
I checked all the nuts for looseness and they were all tight. I\'ll do some more digging and see if I can locate the are where the creaking comes from. The knocking will be difficult though because I can only recreate it when I reverse off my drive.
Hands of my FEED bits too :P
Quote from: L12A GNthe handbrake mechanism is really bad on mazdas n mines goes into garge on wed cos i got a creakng noise but when just coming to a hault when braking , im replacing the pin\'s in the calipers
In my case braking doesn\'t seem to be related to the knocking, just rolling off my drive reproduces the knocking.
The creaking is definetly load related.
Thanks.
http://www.rx7.com/store/rx7/fdsuspension.html states "The factory rear toe-links are known for their outer bushings wearing out frequently. The result is clunking noises and a loose handling feel in the back of the car."
Worth investigating.
Further threads on http://www.rx7club.com seem to point to any pillow balls and the toe links, not likely to be standard bushings as they are rubber. Someone did mention the diff mounts which struck a cord as I forgot I had solid diff mounts installed...
You could get your hands on a noise meter and use it to find which part of the suspension is creaking.
You should have put those Feed ones in that you had!!
Quote from: Initial-DYou should have put those Feed ones in that you had!!
I still have the FEED toe links, some obscure FEED parts to eliminate bump steer on lowered suspension and Petit control arms so I\'ll very likely get them fitted if I it turns out to be worn parts.
Time for some expert tuner help me thinks :)
Chris, when you push the car wing, can you see the rod and top bush move about within the turret. Mine was tight and seemed fine until I saw it move when I "bounced" the car. Might be worth a look.
Quote from: VanChris, when you push the car wing, can you see the rod and top bush move about within the turret. Mine was tight and seemed fine until I saw it move when I "bounced" the car. Might be worth a look.
I\'ll get some assistance from the g/friend and check it out - thanks.
But it\'s a one man job.
Quote from: VanBut it\'s a one man job.
I can\'t push down on the wing and crane my head to see beneath the wheel arch at the same time - it takes a lot of force to produce the creaking sound.
Having now had a good listen for the creaking whilst my girlfriend rolled around in the boot, I have located it as being near the top of the shock absorber as indicated in the images below. There was no noticeable visible movement looking at the turret or the absorber, apart from a very slight compressing of the spring.
Chris
Hehe, I had suspected that you had misunderstood me...and I\'m right. For the front, you need to pop the bonnet and look from the top not under the wheel arch! You can see the top nut and bush from above. At the back, you need to remove the plastic turret cover first- with the boot open of course.
If the bush and rod moves then the lower nut needs tightening by removing the top nut and bush first. This gives you access to the bottom lower nut- no need to jack the car up and remove the coilovers.
Quote from: VanChris
Hehe, I had suspected that you had misunderstood me...and I\'m right. For the front, you need to pop the bonnet and look from the top not under the wheel arch! You can see the top nut and bush from above. At the back, you need to remove the plastic turret cover first- with the boot open of course.
If the bush and rod moves then the lower nut needs tightening by removing the top nut and bush first. This gives you access to the bottom lower nut- no need to jack the car up and remove the coilovers.
Yep, I see where you were coming from about only being a 1 man job. I wanted to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and look underneath as well. Anyhow, there was no movement from the top (under the plastic cover) that I could see :(
I have read a lot of information regarding Tein\'s with a solid upper pillow ball mount (such as the Flex) causing a lot of squeaking and knocking. There does not seem to be much of a solution. Some people have gone for a softer damper setting which has reduced the noise - I will give this a try, I only tried a harder setting when investigating if the damping level was connected to the noise.
After much pushing and pulling on the rear of my car, I can confirm that the rear drivers side is now as bad at creaking as the passenger side.
I also managed to recreate the knocking sound but only on the rear drivers side. I did this by pushing sharply down (compression) as if I was performing cpr. Once I did this 3 or 4 times it would stop and I would have to pull the rear of the car up (rebound)) - doing this sharply made a knocking sound as well, but only 3 or 4 times again.
Oh, setting the damper to the maximum softness of 16 clicks didn\'t have any effect.