Hi all, I have noises coming from the front suspension. It is a kind of short, repetitive knocking sound (like cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck) that occurs when turning right at low speeds. The steering wheel is almost turned all the way to the right, and the car is running at low speed (like starting from a parking lot), when this noise can be heard. I don't really hear this sound at higher speeds, but the wheel is rarely turned to this extreme angle at higher speeds. I don't hear this sound when turning to left either.
Moreover, I also hear some knocking noise from the front suspension, when starting from standing position by releasing the brakes (I have automatic transmission). I don't hear this sound when pushing the brakes and stopping.
My 1998 millennia has approx. 150k miles, KL engine. In the last 1-2 months, all of the lower control arm bushings (front, and rear bushing, crossmember bushing) have been replaced in the front suspension. The vertical stabilizer sway bar, the crossmember stabilizer bushing, the steering rack dust boots have also been replaced. None of these eliminated the above noises, but they did improve the general driving comfort (vibrations at high speeds and noises when driving over bumps) of the car.
I would appreciate any help to find out what else should be replaced. I read many posts about the lateral link. Can it cause such problems ? Or the tie rods, or ball joints ?
thx.

 

One of your CV axles is worn out from the sound of it. Look under the vehicle and check to see if the rubber boots are torn.

 

The rubber boots of the CV joint have also been replaced (one was torn), but the technicians didn't tell if it was worn. Can it be ?

 

what he^^ said. if the boot on the cv joint is torn, most likely the cv is toast. few people replace just the boot, it costs the same to replace the whole axle. they are cheap. your shop did not do you a favor by just replacing the boot, they knew you would be back soon.

 

If it's a cv joint I would think you'd get that clunking noise when accelerating/decelerating too. If it only happens when you turn to the right or left at low speed, I would think the chances are it's an upper strut mount bearing. They are onlt a ball race inside a nylon housing and they do wear out as eventually the grease dries out and other than taking the strut (s) out and repacking the bearings with grease they will soon disintegrate. Sounds like yours are already pooched so unless you have the ability to remove the strut in order to replace the bearing you might be looking at a trip to a front end shop and if you do that you may as well get both bearings replaced because the other side will soon be on it's way out. I've had this problem on two other cars and replacing those bearings always did the trick. The bearings are dirt cheap but expect to pay a few $ for the labour.

 

Thanks Gord, for the comment. I also thought of the strut mount area. Actually I will get my car checked next week. What I also observed, is that I hear some strange creaking noise in the last phase of braking, just before the car stops. I am sure that it is not coming from the brakes - the noise itself is somehow related to the vertical motion/swinging of the car body in this last deacceleration phase. By the way, I dont experience any problems with the shock absorbers...

 

it aint the strut bearings. it's the cv joints. other cars have other problems, some problems are unique to the millenia. i have never changed the strut bearings on our cars, in the 15 years we have owned them. however, i have changed the driver axles on each car at least 3 times, and the passenger on both at least once. if you change the strut bearing, you will have to remove the strut. then you have to compress the spring. the millenia has a very unique spring. most car manufacturers have progressive wound springs, but they are not all the same. mazda did it by using gradually smaller diameter coils. you will need a special tool compressor. have fun. oh, and after you have all the work done, you will end up changing the axle like you should have in the first place.

 

Ok Kennin, I have had to change out the upper strut bearings on three Mazda's that I have owned over the past 25 yrs or so, beginning with a 1987 mazda 626.

I would suggest that the lad take the bloody car into a front end shop and have the front end guy take it for a ride, he will be able to tell pretty quick what the problem is. If he's going to have a front end shop do the job then who cares what the idiosyncrasies of a particular car might be, he's not doing the job anyway.

By the way, I have exactly the same problem with my current Mazda 626, in my case it's the left upper bearing but I'm gonna have them both replaced once the weather improves.

 

yo, this is a millenia. different from a 626. we also had a 626 BIIG pile of sh*t. 626 is made in the usa. millenias all made in japan. in the years we had the 626, i never changed an axle. the millenia axles seem to last about 60k. the upper strut bearings i have never changed. the 626 shocks dont last. the millenia shocks last forever, unless aftermarket springs are used. 626 brakes are lousy. both our 99 millenias brake discs STILL mic well within specs. 626 had new rack under warranty. i have never had a millenia rack go bad. how many millenias have YOU owned? i am only posting from my personal experience, and what others post on the other forum. lotsa axles, no strut bearings. but hey, it's your car. one thing for sure, and axle on a millenia is way easier to change than a strut bearing.

 

Check upper control arm as well they go bad on these cars and will cause a knock sound as well. Upper Lateral links