Front Suspension Rattling???
 

When I drive over smaller. sharp type bumps, with the window open and especially down narrower streets where I can hear the noise reflecting off the buildings or curb beside me, there is a platic like sounding rattle coming from what I suspect the drivers side front area.

I have had my 8 in three times now to what I still think is a great dealership for service to this point. and they have replaced the front driver side headlight leveler, tightened some heat shield and searched various other things but still have not solved the rattling. It's still there!!!

I was in the shop with the techs under my car on the hoist using the rubber mallet to find the rattle and found it myself. It seems something inside the strut rattles when you hit it (or drive over sharp bumps). If you stick your hand over the front tire and hit the front strut, you may hear it.

CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THEIRS RATTLES TOO?

My dealership has teched this to Mazda but how long is this going to take? Does anyone else have this annoying little rattle?

I have a rattle that sounds like it's underneath the car on the passenger side. It only happens sometimes, like when I go over certain bumps at a particular speed. Sounds more metallic to me, like it could be a heat shield of some sort. Dealer unable to duplicate.

Try hitting your front strut with your hand. Do it now! HAHA.

does yours sound like someone clanging tin pots together really fast?

I'm having the same problem, currently the car is at the dealership for some unrelated TSB work, but I did mention it and the guy said that they couldn't reproduce it. It only occurred with me though when I was around 5k RPM and making turn (hwy type @ hwy speed). It's occurred twice and I figured something was loose under there but they couldn't see anything. Dunno, it only lasts for a couple of seconds with me, maybe when the loose peice blows off it will completely resolve itself (doesn't make me feel really great though)

Sounds like hard plastic rattling in a metal box, not quite a tin on tin sound. Reach over the front tire and hit the coil spring or whatever the tech term for it is and you will hear it. I was a the dealer and tried it on a new car up on the stand and it did it too.

Like I said, I only hear it at lower speeds on a quieter street with my window open and especially when a car is beside me, near the curb or close to houses where I hear the echo of the rattle. Still annoying!

Sounds like your passenger side engine mountings are loose this has been a known cause reported by others on the forum .


B......free
michael

I have a similar problem (which I've mentioned here before). When I go over certain kinds of bumps at slower speeds it feels like my front right strut is shot. Very bizarre. You can hear it and feel it in the steering wheel. Needless to say, the dealer "couldn't reproduce it". I only have 8k miles too. I plan to try another dealer.

Does anyone know if a tech will ride with you when you try to reproduce the sound?

Yes they will if you ask for it. I did this when I was reproducing the sound. I had him agreeing he could hear it before we left the dealer lot. Worth doing!!

Like I said, my service dept. is great. They came along several times and only needed to got through the parking lot to hear it. I guess it's time to change the strut but I think the new one will be the same. I would like to look at a new or used strut to see what may be inside making the noise. I don't think it's an engine mount though. If it is, they rattle on both sides.

I only have about 8k too. There is nothing I can feel in the steering or suspension, just the annoying rattle.

same problem here.....very annoying

Same problem here. Been to the dealer once, couldn't duplicate. When I go back next time I'll make sure I take em for a spin so they can hear it.

I hear some metal rattleing sound from the front of the car (i think). I checked the exhaust to make sure it wasnt loose, and its not. I only really hear it when im going over bumps in an alley, or near buildings or cars. Its the echo that makes it really apparent, otherwise i dont think i ever hear it. You think its the engine mountings? Is this supposed to be fixed free on warranty? What should i do?

I suggest that you find a road near the dealer where you can easily reproduce the sound then offer to take the tech on a ride. For me it's not always easy to duplicate so I def do not expect that a tech will be able to on a 5 minute ride.

Guess what???????????????

They changed the front struts after I finally had time to take the car in and VOILA! the front end rattling is gone.

The Mazda tech and I were under the hoist a few months ago and I hit the front coil over the strut and heard the rattle. They ordered the new front struts but just before I took it in I had the check engine light come on. The catalytic converter was toast, so they replaced that and the O2 sensor just in case and did the recall on the heat shield thing. They figured the cat may have been the rattle and fair is fair I agreed to take it without the new shocks. Unfortunately, that wasn't the cure, BUT the shocks are now changed and I am finally satisfied.

I have the same problem. When I kick the front RHS tire I can replicate the rattle. It has been there since day 1. I will get it looked at when I go in next. I thought it was the metal cowling around the front brakes that was making the noise.

skc