I have a banging and a knocking coming from under the front. You can feel it under your feet sitting in the front. As I will assume the shock absorber struts are okay and I no longer feel anything through the steering wheel to indicate suspension parts as just about all have been replaced in the last few weeks because of failed bushes (front and rear lower arms and the rear dampers). It is a solid sort of noise. The ride is now firmer and solid due to resent replacements. I had a bloody good look under the front. what I think I have found is a failed engine mount at the bottom of the generally in the middle. It is easily deflected with little force from a lever (podger) and hits something solid when flexed back and forth. My question is has anybody else had to have engine mounts replaced on the Mazda 5? Many years ago I had a similar issue on a Saab 9000 lower engine mount (hydraulic) (twice) and after replacing that it made a great difference and the banging went away (I then also replace the top torque arm engine mounting bush with a polyurethane version).
if it turns out to be this mount it may actually explain some of your knocking noises from the front. Thanks in advance.

 

The update is that after taking it to my new Mazda garage nearly, 30 miles away. They have said (and I agree) that it is the near side shock absorber. I assume then that it is bottoming out. I would never have believed that the front shock would have got. It's so differcult to test or prove, not you used to do years ago to test shocks. Anyway they are ordering 1 shock and the anti-roll bar bushes (I think he said) because of the squeak (which I wasn't so concerned about like the banging). The car will be 2 years on July 23.

 

The knocking has gone. It's like driving a new car, since over the last few weeks just about all suspension bushes and lower arms have been replaced. Anyway the cause was the nearside (UK) front strut was bottoming out and replacing the unit, under warranty, has cured it. Car nearly 2 years old. Possible each failure cause in some way the failure of the next. The only unit not to fail was the off side front MacPherson strut set (strut and lower arm). If my original garage had taken my concerns and complaint serious and done something nearly a year ago (July) the rest may not have failed yet. The new Mazda garage (28 miles away) I use now were great and took my complaint seriously and professionally and have replaced everything that had worn and the 4 corroded wheels. Off to Europe on Friday now in comfortable car.

 

I had a problem with my rear shocks... they were cracked and leaked almost dry. Were replaced under warranty...

 

My independent garage is telling me that my 5 on 49k miles 07 plate has worn front bushes, and the entire arm needs replacing. Is this true that bushes cannot be replaced on their own? They're quoting £120 each, £400 total job inc vat. Thanks