Squeaky suspension when cold outside

[yearoftherat]

Did a search and couldn't find anything so here we go. I've noticed recently with the drop in temperature that my suspension creaks really bad especially when going over such things as speed bumps. The only suspension mod I've done is replace the stock swaybays with aftermarket eibachs.
Even if I go over uneven bumps (in other words driver over a bump that affects only one side of the car), it still squeaks/creaks.
Could it be the bushing on the swaybars need regreasing or is it something else? To add to the puzzle when I've been on the road for a while/ car warms up its not as bad.
Just wondering if anyone else has encountered this...

[MAZDA Kitten]

Could be the end links? I know some of us had squeaking issues (my self included) from rear sway bars

[yearoftherat]

What did you do to fix the squeaks?

[dentinger]

im having the problem right now...
its my lower ball joints iirc.

i tried greasing them, but the squeaking came back, so im just going to replace them.

[yearoftherat]

im having the problem right now...
its my lower ball joints iirc.

i tried greasing them, but the squeaking came back, so im just going to replace them.

Ball joints already on an '07 :whoa

[dentinger]

yupp.
ive been getting really shitty fuel economy lately, and noticed some inner wear on my one front tire, so i figured i'd do an alignment. my front toe was a bit out, so we adjusted that. and i guess that messed up the ball joints, and they've been squeaking ever since.... oh well. i'll just replace them one night after work.

and i cant take it to mazda, cuz i have coilovers, so they'll just blame it on that.

[yearoftherat]

I'll take a look at the end links. Are they easy to take apart and regrease?

[yearoftherat]

So now I hear that you can not regrease the endlinks. But was told its the urethane bushings that wrap around the bar and mount to the frame with the U-plates.

[Wild Weasel]

Is it a sort of "crunching" sound as much as it is "squeaking" and does the ride seem to stiffen up as well? If so, then it's likely the shocks themselves, and this is normal.

When the temperature gets very cold, the oil in the shocks becomes more viscous, just like the oil in the engine and tranny. The shocks then become more difficult to compress and rebound, resulting in the stiffer ride and can make noises. After driving for 5 minutes or so, the movement of the shocks warms the oil and things return to normal.

[yearoftherat]

No its def not a crunching sound...If it is the shocks its damn annoying. I've owned other cars in the past and they have never been this bad.

[mazda lover]

yupp.
ive been getting really shitty fuel economy lately, and noticed some inner wear on my one front tire, so i figured i'd do an alignment. my front toe was a bit out, so we adjusted that. and i guess that messed up the ball joints, and they've been squeaking ever since.... oh well. i'll just replace them one night after work.

and i cant take it to mazda, cuz i have coilovers, so they'll just blame it on that.

just curious but how can a wheel alignment mess up the ball joints on a 07? you are talking about the front end ...right?

[aris]

Is it a sort of "crunching" sound as much as it is "squeaking" and does the ride seem to stiffen up as well? If so, then it's likely the shocks themselves, and this is normal.

When the temperature gets very cold, the oil in the shocks becomes more viscous, just like the oil in the engine and tranny. The shocks then become more difficult to compress and rebound, resulting in the stiffer ride and can make noises. After driving for 5 minutes or so, the movement of the shocks warms the oil and things return to normal.

i agree...my parents had a car that did this when it was cold out

[Wild Weasel]

i agree...my parents had a car that did this when it was cold out

I suspect that this is more prevalent in higher performance struts. That's just my theory based on mostly nothing though.

All I know is that I don't recall ever having the issue with my Sunfire until I got high performance struts for it. Then it became noticable.

Now I notice the same with the MS3, which I assume also has higher-performance struts.

Maybe someone with some actual facts can clarify. :)

[yearoftherat]

I know there are a few members that are running aftermarket struts...whiteomega is one. For me, I'm running stock struts.

[dentinger]

just curious but how can a wheel alignment mess up the ball joints on a 07? you are talking about the front end ...right?

i guess when we adjsuted the tie rod ends (where the bal joint are), we put alot of stress on the ball joints trying to loosen the tie rods. so im guessing that did the trick...

[Flagrum_3]

I don't know about you guys but all the cars I've ever owned always made weird sounds in extreme cold! I just put it down to everything being 'hardened' by the cold....bushings and yes shock oil etc; .....that's why for the first couple of klicks, I drive slower and avoid going over any bumps or sewers etc; till things warm up or soften abit.


_3

[Fuman]

I know there are a few members that are running aftermarket struts...whiteomega is one. For me, I'm running stock struts.
no problems for me on stock struts or koni yellows. Hope that helps in your investigation

[Wild Weasel]

I don't know about you guys but all the cars I've ever owned always made weird sounds in extreme cold! I just put it down to everything being 'hardened' by the cold....bushings and yes shock oil etc; .....that's why for the first couple of klicks, I drive slower and avoid going over any bumps or sewers etc; till things warm up or soften abit.


_3

Yep. Agreed.

[mazdas3sporte]

I had this problem also , I got the two something inside the hood greased, the two things with the 3 bolts on the left and right side, srry i cant remmber the name! it was better than before but I could still here it, and this winter I can hear it again

[Flagrum_3]

I had this problem also , I got the two something inside the hood greased, the two things with the 3 bolts on the left and right side, srry i cant remmber the name! it was better than before but I could still here it, and this winter I can hear it again

I am assuming you mean the Hood Hinges.


_3

[condor888000]

Strut tower plates? No idea why you would grease those, but 3 bolts, either side...

[mazdas3sporte]

http://i36.tinypic.com/206fpc3.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/vxon88.jpg
look on the two sides u see on the left and right there is something with 3 bolts, i think they opend that up and greased it

[condor888000]

Yeah, those are the strut tower plates.

[lancesir]

I have the same setup as yearoftherat (only sways F+R sways installed). But I think my problem is more of the "crunching" nature that wild weasel mentioned. The sounds do bug me especially the front, always sounds like something is taking a "beating" down there. But definitely if the temps are > 0C, then the problem seems to magically disappear. So I'm pretty sure it's temp related but I also noticed on cold nights (eg. -10C) I still get some noises even after say 20mins of driving, maybe it's just that cold outside I don't know. We need strut warmers, hahaha LOL

[mazdas3sporte]

i drove for an hour today.... it was -4 and it still had the noise, it only dissapears if u drive for a long time when its 0c, anything below 0 it most likely wont completly go away

[yearoftherat]

Update:
Yesterday I took my my car in to Jimmy's and had them lube the bushings on the Eibach swaybays ( F & R).
No more squeaks !!! Will keep an eye on it and will update if needed.

[mazdas3sporte]

that only lasts for max a month , if it really is a real fix let me kno!

[yearoftherat]

that only lasts for max a month , if it really is a real fix let me kno!

If you are running stock swaybars which use rubber bushings,you can not use grease on them.
The Eibach kit uses urethane bushings which are a harder compound than the stock rubber ones ones.

[mazdas3sporte]

iam running the stocks, and i had mine gresed by mazda.....