Creaky suspension

[FD3Typer2]

I had squeaky suspension and a bit of clunking. I changed all the bushes thinking that would solve it but the suspension still squeaks. I guess it could be the shocks. The car has had the alignment done, but it feels quite \'bouncy\' and wanders around. It doesn\'t feel safe at anything over 80mph.

My suspension is a Mazdaspeed setup, which was on the car when I got it. Can I get the shocks rebuilt or do I have to get a new setup?
Cheers

[g.miller]

I have a T11 vert with only 31,000 miles, with creaky/ banging noise from the back, i hoped it was the exjust as i could see where it had been bouncing up and hiting the under side of the rear body work, fixed this with some extra bracing, but it still is the same, its worse when the car is hot, so i have ordered some rear shocks from the local mazda garage in Cambridge. i hope they come early this week as the dealership closes for good on friday :mad:

[FD3Typer2]

Went for a drive today. The squeaking was not to bad, but by the time I got home is was continually squeaking. Not sure if this was because the car was warmer, or because of the light rain. It\'s quite annoying and emabarassing in traffic!

[G@NDY]

Mmmmmmm creaks and squeaks eh? Are you sure that its not just the rigours of old age Trev and nothing to do with that loverly FD of yours  :p

[Ricco_04]

Sounds to me like it is the shocks.  I am going to be ordering a set of Tein super street for mine, should fix the problem! :cool

I have changed the bushes that needed it and still have the knoching and unstable at 70+mph.  Also if accelerating hard and go from 3rd to forth is feels sheepish then to.

[GerbilStuntFarm]

When you replaced the bushes did you check the dustboot that should be filled with grease to protect the ball joints. These will creak if left to dry. Cheaper to check these first before replacing the shocks.

Picture of the one in the upper arm..

[Adriansturgess]

I suffered something similar last summer. When the car was cold I could bounce the back of the car up and down and it didn\'t squeak. After a few miles driving it started to squeak, eventually becoming almost continuous. I thought it was the shocks, but my local garage disagreed and replaced the o/s top wishbone outer bush and this cured the problem. The only difference from what you\'re saying is that the car still handled OK at speed despite the squeaking, so I guess yours might be the shocks after all!  :confused:

[FD3Typer2]

It could well be the boot having no grease, I filled it up but there was some work done recently which had most of it squeezed out.

As Adrian rightly said, the car still handles like ****e so it could still be the the shocks. Damn those Tein Flex are pricey!

One question, If I have changed all the bushes, tracking Ok and new coilovers, can there be anything else that makes the car handle poorly? My last FD handled superbly and I want this one to be the same!

[g.miller]

tyres and tyre pressures, thats about all thats left?

i have changed the rear dampers on my T11 and would you belive it  after hours taking out the the inside trim on the convertible, getting the rear springs and shocks off, then relalising i needed a spring compresser, having the local garage fit the new shocks to the springs and then fitting it all back together again, the creaking is still there?? mummer mia too far questo :3gears-lh  

the only thing i keep telling myself is that the shocks were 15 years old so they must have needed replacing anyway.

I do not have the rubber boot on my set up as far as i can see, so will be checking the anti roll bar bushes etc this weekend :Hammer

[FD3Typer2]

Found the creaking. It\'s the Unobtainium/Jimlab bushes which have recently been fitted. I am glad I fitted grease nipples now and will lube them up today. Will try tracking now and confirm whether the car still handles badly.

On the downside, there is an intermittent clunk/knock from the front of the car when I drive slowly over bumps. It has a sound like as if a bolt on the suspension is loose and there is movement when the wheel moves up and down. Have done a visual check and can\'t see anything, and no noinse when the wheel is shaken once jacked up.

Damn car, if it\'s not one thing it\'s another!

[Adriansturgess]

Yes, I sometimes wonder whether to just replace all the bushes in one go rather than one at a time as they need it! With regard to your problem, it could be that the poor handling and the squeaking are actually unrelated issues. I think bushes have to be pretty badly gone before they significantly affect handling.

[FD3Typer2]

I think you are right Adrian. The creak from the front is almost certainly the nylon bushes. I didn\'t want to change the bushes one by one and thought why not change all of the 13 year old bushes!

The knocking is one of 2 things (I think). Either it\'s one of the ball joints, as I have read that I need to remove the wheel, and jack up the hub so the linkage is at the normal position, only then will the worn ball joint make a noise. If the hub is shaken while at the bottom position, the ball joint is tight and the play will will not be obvious. The other thing it could be is really stupid and I should be able to check that today. My strut brace was not tightened up. I am hoping that it is that which is knocking.

Tracking will also be done today.

Will keep updating my progress.

[g.miller]

At the weekend i got my son to jack the car up by the rear axle while i laid underneath lisitening,[not very bright] and found a creak coming from the right control link [looks like a dog bone with a bush at each end]

 I then remove this and found one of the bushes was a bit grawnchy. so this morning i tel. Mazda for a price of the link £180 for both sides with new bolts, wow what a rip off, its not as if you can get them from anywere elce, just got everything crossed that this sorts the problem out! [just paid £180 for the rear shocks]

whouldn\'t it be good if the club members could order parts direct from Mazda at a suitable discount? I am sure if enough people back this Mazda might agree??
Mr G. [not related to Ali]

[FD3Typer2]

Yeah, Mazda here are a real rip off. I have been ordering parts from Malloy Mazda in the States. A guy there called Ray Crowe deals with the orders and is very helpful. He does not mind posting to the UK either. If anyone needs the contact details just shout

[g.miller]

yes please
any other source of parts would be great
thanks bud
Mr G. :InLove