Well I was driving around last night and all was well. I drove around the city for about good 20 miles after changing my oil and spark plugs at night.

When coming to a stop sign I stepped on the brakes on noticed this "clunking" sound which scared the **** out of me coming from the front right tire.

What could this sound be? I am not positive that it is coming from the front right wheel but my gf and I confirmed that it sounded like it was coming from there.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

hmm I have the samet problem except from my left, does it happen only when you step on the break or is there a consistant sound when driving?

 

Do you notice a lack of power as if your brakes were applied? Hopefully your calipers didn't lock up, that happened to me not realizing it and destroyed my passenger side rotors and calipers

 

It only happens when I brake but the braking power does not seem affected. I have not been driving fast since I noticed the sounds so I havent been at a high speed and used the brakes very hard.

If I am cruising and step on the brakes and left go and repeat I can hear the clunk sound each time.

How do I check to see if my calipers have locked up?

 

Check to make sure caliper springs and pins are in place, and caliper assembly tight. May be the pad moving inside the caliper if one of the above missing.
To check caliper pistons, remove pads and see if all pistons will go back into bores easily. Especially the lower ones. If they don't move in easily, pistons sticking in bore.

 

I had errr STILL have that problem in my 7. Get under the car and check the control arm bushings. .mine are shot and im almost 100% sure thats the problem.

 

Do take the time to check the two bolts holding the caliper mounting bracket in place for looseness. If they've come loose the whole caliper/ mounting bracket assembly will shift every time you brake, causing a clunking noise. If that's the problem and it isn't dealt with, eventually the bolts will fall out and you'll be in for one very memorable experience. Tighten them.

 

 

Very memorable experience indeed....

 

Hmmmmmmmm
I kinda have the same prob.

When ever I take slow tight turns(backing out of parking spot) or if I brake heavy it will make a clicking/clunking sound.

I'm driving to SS6 so I better check those calipers.
My thread on this never got answered ecxept one idea to check my strut topmount. Something like bearings might be bad I dunno.

 

I had that problem a couple nights ago. I pulled over and looked at my bumper. Turns out I had forgot to screw in the turn lenses that sit right below the FTP's. I had just painted my bumper and they were just "sitting" in there spot. Well the left one fell out and was flapping against the bumper when I braked. Ya might wanna check that.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I will go home and check all those things tonight after work.

I noticed that I also hear the clunk sound on turns both left and right.

Thanks again. I will post results of the inspection tonight.

 

Well I checked under the car tonight while I was trying to remove the exhaust system and noticed something that was pretty scary.

I'm not sure what there called but I think they are U joints (hold the axle together with 2 bolts with the bracket shaped like a U) and they were only being held by one bolt on each side.

How dangerous is it to be driving around like this and how can I fix this? It appears that the U joint is bent downwards and will not bolt up unless I have alot of force pushing it up. Maybe jack the U joint and bolt it up?

What size is this bolt? Is it even called a U joint?

More problems than I bargained for but I want to fix these things myself if possible.

 

bump

 

ttt

 

VERY DANGEROUS
If your driveshaft comes off while driving, when it hits the ground it might catch on something and casue big time problems or accident.

 

What are those U brackets called and what size bolt and thread will I need to replace them.

 

You may be referring to U-bolts on the exhaust system, or a suspension part.
A loose U-bolt will at worst allow an exhaust leak.
Here is a page from the Factory Service Manual showing the rear suspension.
There is a common but not dangerous problem where the trailing arm (17) bolts to the sub-frame.
When the connecting bushing gets old, it makes a clunking sound with suspension travel.
[IMG]208.62.166.66/guest/Shop_Manuals/86-88 FSM/rear-end.jpg[/IMG]

 

No they are the u shaped brackets that hold part of the suspension left and right of the downpipe.

I think this U bracket goes around the circular part on the front lower arms on the left side of the diagram on page 16 of the FSM for 89-91 suspension chapter.

It is only being held on by one bolt and the other side is unbolted and bent towards the floor.

I am assuming I can just find the right bolt and jack up that bracket and bolt it back up. Is this safe to do or could I damage something.

I cant seem to find the brack in the FSM and I want to fix this ASAP as this seems potentially very dangerous and expensive if I dont fix it soon.

If anybody could help I would greatly appreciate it.

 

take some pics. . .cirlce the items using photoshop maybe? And then maybe one of the experts can help you out...

 

Here is a picture that I found on the forum, not a very good one though. The part I am referring to is circled in red.



I wont have a chance to take my own pix for until tomorrow at the earliest.

 

they are the front wishbone - rear bush brackets.
I have just changed the bushes on them-what a nightmare!!!!!!!!
It's a 19mm bolt head around 30mm long
If you still have them on the other side take one out and go get it....

 

they are the front wishbone - rear bush brackets.
I have just changed the bushes on them-what a nightmare!!!!!!!!
It's a 19mm bolt head around 30mm long
If you still have them on the other side take one out and go get it....

jack up the car not on the wishbones and you will be able to push them into place.

I would not drive the car until you have fixed this problem - you will see a difference in handling once this is fixed .....................as is bad bad bad

 

So will fixing this be simply getting the bolts and bolting them up again?

Anybody got a Mazda part # of is this something I can get at a hardware store or home depot. I dont want to be driving around like this and possible cause more damage.

 

yep jack it up push them into place thats it job done.

jack it up take out the last bolt you said was still in there go to mazda - I would think its a standard bolt that mazda use