Front end popping noise.
 

Hi there,
2001 Mazda MP3 with ~60k and a 1.5" drop. When I am coming to a stop under light-moderate brake pressure, there is a popping noise that comes from the front of the car. It only happens when braking. If I were to glide to a stop in or out of gear, no. If I slow down to where the popping begins, and then switch to the e-brake, no.

I removed the pads and regreased the area where the front pads go with brake grease, and re-greased the bottom slides where the allen key goes on the caliper. My next step is replacing the front swaybar bushings since they already creak in the cold. This problem happens in cold, warm, dry or wet.

Any ideas?

Chris

how are your cv boots looking?

How would I check? :)

Ok, just a slight update on the symptoms. It is getting worse right now, so its easier to test when things happen. It happens under light-moderate braking, not heavy. It also does not happen when you brake when going in reverse. I had my fiancee drive forward and brake for me, and from the outside it sounds totally different. Maybe because its so less bassy, but it sound like more of a clicking noise coming from somewhere by the wheel. Definitely from the driver side, couldn't tell if it was doing it on the passenger side (might have been hearing the driver side).

I tried turning the wheel all the way side to side with the car at a stop. No noise. I also turned the wheel all the way to a side and drove at a slow (5-10mph) speed. No popping. Tried it all the way to the other side, and no popping.

Its got to be something rotational, but its so weird that it only does it going forward. I still haven't ruled out brakes either. I might just take it to a shop and see if someone will do a suspension check for cheap.

Any other ideas?

Chris

crawl under the car and see if the cv boots are cracked. they are the rubber accordian looking things between your rotor and the axle. if the driver side one is torn, the popping might be indicative of early signs of axle bearing failure. also check your sway bar bushings up front.

Is the popping noise happening when you're easing off the brakes as you stop?

I'm having that trouble w/my 03 LX right now - https://www.mazda3club.com/3rd-gen-protege-mazdaspeed-p5-mp3-26/front-suspension-pop-40682/

I'm starting to think it's coming from the strut mounts. I've ordered a pair of AWR spherical bearing mounts & will update after the install.