i get that dreaded clicking or grinding noise whenever i accelerate while turning. by reading some threads here, many people say it might be the CV joints? is that hard to check or diagnose when my greatest expertise when it comes to cars is changing the oil? should i just bring it to a repair shop, because it just had new axles replaced at my 90k sched. maintenance (car is a little over 98k now). the extend of my tools goes from philips head screw driver to socket wrenches. thanks for your advice.
-meGrimlock

 

From my experience in Mazda's (which is only 3 of them) if you want to know if your CV joints are nearing the end of their life you do the following. While fully stopped, turn the steering wheel completely to the left or right and then accelerate normaly. If you hear clicking noise that is CV joint/axle (since they both get replaced). You say that your car had axles replaced not long ago. Both or just one? Check that, and also if you never attemted anything else except oil change, then probably take it to the shop. It dosen't cost that much and also they got the right tools. Whenever I begin some work I find I need some tools, and in the middle of repair I have to go buy some tool.

Good luck.

 

take a look in the wheel well, if u see grease and a torn boot its spanked and needs to be replaced. Also u should be able to tell which one is bad when u turn the wheel

 

thanks for the advice, when i get some time over the weekend, i'll take a look.
-meGrimlock

 

turns out i needed new front axles! they were replaced already when i did my 90k maintenance, so they were still under warranty. the shop replaced them for free, but still charged for labor, which is still better than paying full price. thanks.
-meGrimlock