a couple of weeks ago a clucking noise started from the rear passenger side of the car...happens at low speeds on a bump, or when i brake...dont know what it is..i'm gonna get it check this weekend, but want to have an idea of what it might be...of yah a friend said it might be the shocks, because they havent been replaced yet and the car has 109k miles on it

any help would be aprecciated!

 

It sounds like it is a problem with your supension bushings. This is a common failing point on FDS. Unfortunantly it is difficult to determine which bushings need to be replaced without putting the car on jackstands-even then it's still difficult to ascertain the problem with 100% certainty without taking parts off. Do a search, this is one of the most popular topics on the forum.

 

If your shocks were dead then it may make a clunking nosie when you hit a bump but not when you brake. If your car also makes noises when under hard and sudden acceleration, it may either be the differential bushings or the rear suspension bushings. It is hard to tell exactly which bushing is worn, you can tell by prying on the control arms when the car is jacked up on the frame but it may still be hard to tell exactly which one is bad. All you can really tell is which one has more play then the other, unless one is completely ripped. Before i bought my car the previous owner was quoted 4 hours of labor by M2 Performance to change the 6 suspenion busings in the rear, the stock bushings are about $50x6. It would be kind of point less to just replace one bushing. Plus if you are going to pay $400 in labor do you really want to put the stock ones back in. I'm planning on doing the whole nylon bushing kit on my car if i can find a set for sale. It helps if you can do it yourself. I've never heard of the labor to replace all the bushings but i would assume that at my shop we would charge around $800 for the labor.

 

I beleive there are 4 rear bushings that are the common ones to wear out. Yes there are more spearicle bearings/bushings but I said the common ones the wear out. My bill was $870.00 with labor but that included new MazdaSpeed sway bar mounts and front bearings, so figure 1/2 that price.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/h93-95c.htm

 

I just had all my rear bushings replaced last year. I had the dealer do it and it cost about $1500.00 for parts and labor. I believe you can get after market bushings to replace most of the stock ones. If you do a search I am sure you could find them. Anyway replacing the bushings solved the clunking problem