Hi Guys,

I recently bought a used Mazda 3 from the first owner. It isa 2005 model doing 50,000 K. I have 3 issues with it and I wanted to find out if anyone has similar problems.

1) When I am driving about 80-100 Km/h and I apply the brake relatively hard, my steering vibrates excessively. I have driven a few other brand of cars, and their steerings vibrate but very slightly/negligible (all had ABS). Is this something to do with the rotars being uneven?

2) The steering is not very soft to turn compared to say a civic. The power steering fluid is filled right up so that cannot be the cause. Is this normal?

3) Everytime I accelerate, I hear a very very loud rattling sound coming from the back of the car. Once I slow down, sound stops. Someone told me this might be due to the extractors or vibration of the muffler. Any ideas?

I have to take the car by a mechanic but I just do not have the time right now so I say I will pop this to you guys. Cheers.

 

On the first count I would almost certainly say warped rotors, replace them, dont turn them. On the second I'm not sure having never driven a civic. i know my '05 has a firm feel to the wheel but nothing excessively difficult. As for the third, i would check heat shields to start with then go from there. They can make some weird noises and its not worth paying a shop to bend it away from the exhaust.