Mine is just going over 120k km. I started to hear a clunking noise while going straight over wavy roads and speed bumps. The noise is definitely coming from the front and may also be from the rear. I would like to know if others have had this noise and what the usual suspect is.

I used to have a Mazda MX6 and I got a very similar noise whenever the sway bar links needed replacing. And I was going through lots of them. I am wondering if they usually need replacing in outies or should look for other items like tie-rods. I am not feeling any effect on the way the car steers and drives.

 

could be sway bar links, ball joints, or tie rods...

 

Thank you, ccernst.

Could you please confirm one thing. The sway bar links are both front and rear, and the ball joints are only at the front. Is this correct?

 

I was having a metal on metal sound on mine too. had the dealer check it and everything was fine, suspension was nice and tight. the culprit the headache was the brake caliper bushings and boots that were making the noise... just an idea.

 

correct.

cheech...that's true...would be good idea to check items mounted on the wheels for looseness.

 

If anyone has the part numbers for these, could you please post them;

ball joint
sway bar link

Thank you.

 

The local dealer just told me that the lower ball joints do not come separately and are only available as an arm assembly. Is that true? In that case, are we looking at aftermarket parts strictly? Anyone has good and bad experience with different makes?

 

sway bar links arent talked about much in general but go bad easily and sound horrible. bad shops will tell you its this and that and run up big costs for a part that is 30 bucks on ebay and 50 to have installed. allllllllways start there

 

that's true, the ball joints is part of the lower arm. Moog has recently put out a product for us that is very affordable.
RockAuto Parts Catalog

I would stay the hell away from Dorman. Raybestos...meh..would probably be okay. Moog suspension parts are great.

I'm sure you'll be paying 200+ per side just for the arm from the stealership.

 

I would like to report that in my case the cause was the front sway bar links. I bought them and the lower ball joints from ebay and went to my mechanic. I am just happy that it was fixed in one trip. I am sure I can eventually use the ball joints. The parts came from Taiwan. It will be interesting to see how long they last.....:-)