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Loud clicking noise when I accelerate and stop

37K views 29 replies 21 participants last post by  tysms3 
#1 ·
With the windows down, I can hear it perfectly. It's something coming from the front wheels. When I accelerate at any point OR when I get on the brakes, I hear a single click when I accelerate, and a single click when I get on the brakes.

...brake pads moving in the calipers???
 
#2 ·
odd as this may sound, the first thing I would check would be your wheel lug torque
almost sounds like the brake rotor could be moving

it could be the brake pads I suppose, but not sure why they would make noise when you accelerate

very hard to diagnose noises over the internet, but your best bet may be to jack up the front of the car and take a closer look
 
#4 ·
Yea, I checked the torque.

Actually, what I did was after buying the car and driving it back from Boston 400 miles, I took each wheel off to wash and wax them and while I was there I put anti-seize on all of the lugs.

Then I got the wheels back on and torqued them to 82 ft lbs. Ever since I did all that, both front wheels are making that clicking noise. It's pretty loud, like I can drive down my street and hear the noise echoing off cars I pass.

Well, once I get it registered I have to take it into mazda to get the mount and floor mat recalls taken care of anyway so I'll have them look at it.
 
#6 ·
have you checked your front tires for stones,(even small ones) or a possible nail? I live back in the woods and have a 800 ft stoned driveway an it seems i get clicks when there is a stone in the tread, and also have had this issue with nails more than once.
 
#7 ·
Nah it's not something like that. It's like something is moving, then moving back. I hear a click when I accelerate and then another one when I get on the brakes.
 
#8 ·
I'd take the 2 front wheels off again and do a visual inspection of both the inside of the rims and brake rotors/ caliper. If nothing's obvious put them back on and see if the problem goes away. If it's still there - dealer time.
 
#9 ·
You know I have the same sound and the dealership changed the front drivers side caliper and it didn't fix the problem. But now since I have changed my exhaust, I have not heard the sound once. perhaps it has to do with the heat shield as I my new Mazdapseed ms3 exhaust is less bulky than stock it may be something clinking on the heat shield. I think if you have a look under the car and you wiggle your exhaust you might get lucky and figure out what the noise is.

I hope this helps.

Spyder
 
#10 ·
Had it at Mazda today for the bolt recall, the guy worked for hours trying to find the source of the noise and he couldn't figure it out. He says he needs more diagnosis time.
 
#11 ·
I must recant my last post...I heard the noise again :?
I only notice the noise when the outside temp is under 21 celcius so I think heat creates a tighter fit. I only get the noise in the first few minutes of driving and then I cannot reproduce it. Today I did notice that I could stop the noise when I quickly accelerate and then quickly brake. So my thinking it that the drivers side brake pads shifts back and forth. I also looked at the TSB related to the CV joint I am hoping it isn't it but I am not satisfied the dealership will make an effort to check that out.

Cheers!

Spyder
 
#12 ·
Yea I'm pretty sure it's something coming from the hub area, like a brake pad or CV joint or something. I'm not gonna say it's a CV joint though because the noise is such a pronounced click, like metal on metal, where a CV joint is inside a rubber boot packed with grease, you'd barely be able to hear it I'd think. Unless something in that joint is moving, making the clicking noise which resonates down the axle or something, kinda like taking a hammer to a rail road track.
 
#13 ·
stabilizer bar? end links? Have you replaced your rear engine mount? If so maybe the bolt has worked itself loose? Loose caliper pins?
 
#15 ·
I have exactly the same noise with my 06 Mazda with 104k miles. after checking several places everything looks good but CV shaft. Its loose and can be moved by hand, the best guess is the body of shaft hitting a metal somewhere when accelerate or stop. so I'm going to change it tomorrow hopefully noise disappear.
 
#17 ·
Its not a click noise huh its more like a sudden snap noise right? probably started noticing it now that the weather has gotten hotter? its your break pads moving in the slides. ive had the same problem only notice itwhen its warm. Ive gotten it checked and thats what it is. Im more concerned on mine with what sounds like a clunky tranny but i think itsthe exhaust banging the undercarriage and my rear suspension makes a squeek type noise over rough terrain.....
 
#18 ·
[quote author=Mica07ms3 link=topic=87267.msg1708531#msg1708531 date=1189610075]
Yea I'm pretty sure it's something coming from the hub area, like a brake pad or CV joint or something. I'm not gonna say it's a CV joint though because the noise is such a pronounced click, like metal on metal, where a CV joint is inside a rubber boot packed with grease, you'd barely be able to hear it I'd think. Unless something in that joint is moving, making the clicking noise which resonates down the axle or something, kinda like taking a hammer to a rail road track.
[/quote]


go to a parking lot, turn the wheels hard right and make a circle, do the same to the left, if it makes the noise louder or clicks like a playing card in the bike wheel, then which ever way to turned and the noise was present it which side the axel is bad on.

if it's the brake pads, which I think it is, then visually look at the pads, often times when people replace pads, they don't put the spacers back in, they are supposed to be there for this reason. to fix this, go get some brake lube from advance auto zone oreilly's where ever, lube any place where the pads touch metal to metal. If this doesn't fix it, orders some brake shims, explain what they are for and they will order or point you to the right ones. If they don't look right, they probably aren't. Another thing you can do, take the pad out of the piston and expand the spring on the back of the pad.

Final note, make sure everything is lubed and tight, your noise will go away if it's a brake pad.
 
#19 ·
I'm having this too. Last spring I heard it faintly, but thought it was the AC compressor clutch, because it would happen getting on and off the throttle. Now, as summer wanes and I'm driving with the windows open more, I'm finding it has gotten QUITE loud. Haven't had a chance to get the wheels off and check hubs and brakes yet, but last time in the dealership they mentioned I'd need new brakes soon but not right now, so the noise getting louder might be tracking with brake wear. I guess I'll check that first.

Still trying to find a mechanic who'll put on these Hotchkis Sway Bars I got. I'd do it myself except that working underneath the car without a lift makes me homicidal. Dealership wanted ~$400 to do the work -- eff that. One local guy says the he won't do "bring your own parts" jobs, and another also wanted a ton of money to do it. I'm suspecting that the standard front sway bar estimate in the quoting database that everyone uses assumes you're actually gonna take the cradle all the way off, but the Hotchkis instructions indicate that you don't actually have to. Oh well. I can't say I've been trying too hard -- been real busy lately.
 
#22 ·
I had an exhaust bracket on the cat converter section that would make contact on accelerating and decelerating, so you might want to shake the exhaust around and see if any noise is apparent.
 
#23 ·
...pause...

Sorry -- had to finish removing the dealership's c*ck from my ass. Just got an all around brake job done - 4x pads and rotors (dealer service guy said there was not enough material left to turn them -- amazing for 25K miles) and this noise is gone. I'll be doing brakes myself from now on, that's for sure. Stealership brake job was highway robbery. Groan.

Anyway, that's all: Noise gone.
 
#26 ·
Unfortunately, this problem is back. Was gone for about a month after the brake job. I'm just gonna assume it's normal and not worry about it. Or maybe I'll ask the dealer about it, since I just had to have the car flat-bedded to the dealer for a clutch failure. I'm really starting to wish I'd gotten rid of this car.
 
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