1993 Mazda MX-3. White 5speed manual hatchback. 1.6 liter 16 valve SOHC engine. 14" alloy rims with a stock 1.5" exhaust. 168,010 miles and 29mpg combined city and highway. Full size spare in the trunk with monsterous dual 10" pioneer woofers.

Now, the problem:

Last week I replace the front Struts and upper strut mounts. I reused the springs and the rubber insulators for the upper spring perch (they're old, but not in bad shape). I noticed after the swap that at slow speeds, there's now a popping/binding noise. It sounds like its possibly coming from the driver's front. I'm 99% confident that the coil springs were installed/seated propery. Bearings, Ball joints, tie rods, and cv half-shafts have all been replaced in the last two years. The noise can be heard more inside the cabin of the car than outside. It happens only when I'm steering heavily to/from the left (ie: pulling into a parking space to the left). It's slightly louder when I turn to the left and I reverse. Sitting still and turning the wheel makes little noise. It's more prominent when moving at slow speeds. Thoughts? Google has given me a variety of answers, being ball joints, tie rods, sway bar endlinks, or coil spring insulators.

4/13/2011 7:28:10 PM

subwoofer wire gauge?

4/13/2011 8:28:38 PM

aux input on that head unit?

4/13/2011 8:35:41 PM

I, too, make pooping sound at slow speeds.

4/13/2011 8:42:05 PM

Seriously guys.

4/13/2011 8:58:08 PM

Guarantee you that it's the CV, regardless of when you had it replaced.

4/13/2011 9:08:41 PM

Quote :

"installed/seated propery"

Found your problem; you're racist

4/13/2011 9:54:20 PM

How new/beat up are the strut mounts

4/13/2011 10:16:33 PM

Strut mounts are new. Like maybe 80 miles on them.

It didn't do this before the strut swap. I torqued everything down with a torque wrench and spent half an hour today looking at everything and can't figure it out. But it's annoying and the fact that I know it's not suppose to make this sound bothers me.

I suppose I could see if a shop will diagnose the issue for free for me, but that's unlikely they'll do it for free...

<--- cheap bastard.

[Edited on April 13, 2011 at 10:36 PM. Reason : .]

4/13/2011 10:33:38 PM

How's the rack. Not the titties

4/13/2011 11:05:23 PM

Power steering fluid is fine. It was flushed out about 3 years ago (~30k miles). I don't see any leaks... I was thinking maybe it is the rack... Problem seems to be getting worse, so I'm going to have to see what the deal is. I'll take the front struts off and make sure the coils seated in the rubber insulators properly.

4/14/2011 12:14:51 AM

Quote :

"White 5speed manual hatchback."

white eh? that might be the problem

4/14/2011 1:11:34 AM

Quote :

"88 Horse Power"

4/14/2011 1:13:03 AM

I would double check your top hats and make sure they are lined up with the strut perch. The shock rod isn't centered on struts and you can install the top hats turned a 1/4 or even half way in the other direction and it'll still go together fine. But it will rub on low speed turns and little humps.

Your springs are probably coming in contact with a little stud (from a bolt on the shock tower). When the shock compresses the spring may be hitting it.



Or it could be the color of the car.

[Edited on April 14, 2011 at 5:01 PM. Reason : ]

4/14/2011 5:01:18 PM

a pic of what im talking about

4/14/2011 10:23:13 PM

Mechanics 101:

If it didn't do it before the mod, but now it does it after the mod...

you did the mod wrong

4/14/2011 10:58:49 PM

strut mount bearing plates perhaps

4/20/2011 5:19:10 PM