This is an absolute NOOB question, so I apologize... but I need some help

There is an ugly rattle in my front end. Sounds like metal on metal where there used to be a bushing or a screw to hold it. I'm posting it in this forum because the sound is most obvious over bumps, but is almost nothing when braking... even when going over speed bumps if I'm on the brakes.

Took it to the brake mechanic who did my last brake job, he said it was suspension. Took it to Mazda, they said I needed new brakes... though they were just done a year or so ago. Neither of them told me specifically what was wrong. Brake guy said it was suspension and he didn't know anything about it... Mazda guy was a service manager who said the mechanic left for the day and he'd call me back. I've been waiting a week.

Any ideas? I can just FEEL myself getting raked over the coals on this one

 

Prolly gonna hafta get under with a jack and give it a close look-see.

Compare both sides, look for empty bolt holes, dangly bits or shiny marks where something rubs around - it's not rocket surgery - when a mechanic looks that's what is on his checklist.

.......especially dangly bits - they can be bad!

 

do the visual check, also jack up the car and tap the tires with a rubber mallet, see if anything makes noise or moves around,

i had a similar symptom with my brakes a while back when i swapped pads, i had to swap out my old and worn oem shims for new ones and applied alot of anti noise grease and the problem went away, not saying this could be your issue but you might want to check

 

Any update? Who was right and who was wrong? The brake mechanic or the dealership?

 

Two questions: what year is your car and when were the pads replaced?

I had a clicking issue similar to yours, present as the car moves and disappears once the brake pedal is applied. It's in cyclical motion so it was either the brake calipers or the bearings. I replaced my pads early this year and noticed that the box didn't contain a set of shims and clips as the OEM did. My problem was that the new pads were slightly smaller than the OEM which sits loose in place causing those two metals to hit each other as the wheels move, thus, the clicking noise. I bought a lube kit for the floating rods because one of it was seized, expanded the clips so the new pads are snug in the calipers' bracket. Surely that fixed my clicking noise. Look into that when you're under your car's wheel well looking for the problem.

 

Grace nailed it. THANK YOU ALL

 

You're welcome, I was so relieved as well when I was able to fixe it.