Hello all,
I need a little help diagnosing a suspension problem I have on a 2006 Mazda 3, 5 door Grand Touring.

Symptoms: While driving and particularly under acceleration through turns in wet or minor rough roads, it feels like the inside wheel breaks traction and starts hopping. I have to let of the gas pedal to get it to stop. I'm not doing burnouts or anything, it happens under normal acceleration. It happens in straight lines if I hit a sharp bump as well. The front wheels, not the whole car, feel like they're bouncing. It happens more on the right front then the left front.
I notice no noticeable diving under breaking, no bouncing like you get with bad shocks and no grinding when turning the wheel.

Thanks for any help

 

Have you checked to make sure all the engine mounts are still fine?

 

The engine mounts were replaced a year and a half ago. I know it's not the engine mount.

 

Have you looked for a leaky strut or a broken endlink?

 

You don't say what year and mileage your Mz3 is at, or where and what conditions you normally drive in. It may just be a blown strut.
The OE's, like most, leave something to be desired.

 

It sounds like the struts are shot. Gas shocks/struts loose their gas first, then the oil. First they feel a little harder and jittery, then they get bouncy in a big way. Yours are 6 years old and if you do average miles per year they have about 70000 on them. It is not unusual for struts/ shocks to go at that mileage.