New TSB to get rid of the 'Clunk'

[magz]

Pretty sure this is my first, maybe second post... I haven't needed to post, the search button has worked great! Thanks!

Well, after 3 years of taking my MSP back to dozens of dealerships from FL to SC. My dealership in SC has finally been able to completely fix the 'CLUNK'. I bought the car new with the CLUNK! Now it’s gone!

The told me that a new Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) came out a month ago to fix the sway bar linkage to get rid of the noise. All work was done under warranty! wooohooo! Just hope the noise doesn't come back...

I figured I'd share some good news for a change!

Late,

[MSpeed2397]

? Besides changing the bushings?

[magz]

Oh yeah, they changed the bushings too! The bushings were changed on Friday (no change to noise).

The dealer called mazda on Friday and found out about the new TSB to replace the linkage and that was fixed yesterday.

I was so tired of the squeeking, clunking, and noises. I kept turning in my car every week for the last two months to get things replaced. On Friday the service manager said, "after we replace the linkage, you'll have a whole new rear suspension". haha

[jmv]

i got the "e" series bushings and they've worked fairly well for me for about, 6 months i guess. But i think its coming back. If they actually do something to truly fix it, that would be awesome.

[magz]

I've had the 'E' series put in a couple of times now but the noise never went away. Funny cause dealerships (including this one) have given up trying to fix the clunk.

[smo0f]

tsb #/title?

[magz]

Sorry dude, I didn't even ask for it. Really I didn't think it was going to fix it.

Let me call him to get the TSB number for ya... Should get it today.

[smo0f]

i wonder if TSBs only apply for cars under warranty

[MSpeed2397]

I believe they put a limit on the TSB that can be whatever they designate.

[Stormtrooper77]

If it looks completely different under your car then they did something to fix it. If not, then well, the clunk will be back.

[Pyr0TeK]

Do you have a link to the TSB?

[magz]

Nope... I've call the SM and he's going to give me the TSB #.

[vcinsanity1523]

subbin for updates

[smo0f]

yea if you could also take some pics of the bottom where they did work, just to see what they did, would be helpful. thanks

[MSpeed2397]

For sure man...I wanna get rid of that crap!

[Pyr0TeK]

Mine is out of warranty so I will have to pay but I want to see what parts are replaced and with what etc... yes pics would be great also...

[mickeyreategui]

is this clunk noise only related to msp or any protege that has a sway bar???

[Pmpkinhead]

LOL:bs:

[Pyr0TeK]

Nonbelief I sense in you young Skywalker... (mj)

LOL:bs:

[Ryoga28]

We need THEMAN to chime in on this possible tsb.

[magz]

some pics...

90327

90328

90329

90330

Still no word from the SM yet on the TSB #.

[Pyr0TeK]

Uhhhhh those just look like the stocks... the clunk comes from the bushings on the bar though... uhhhh... uhhhhh.... (wtf)

[Black_Protege_5]

That looks exactly the same just with new endlinks. Ask them what work was done because it doesn't look like much.

[Pyr0TeK]

Probably just replaced the damn bushings again... I mean the endlinks look the same... new ones won't make a difference unless I am missing something in those pix...

That looks exactly the same just with new endlinks. Ask them what work was done because it doesn't look like much.

[Black_Protege_5]

I meant new endlinks in the sense that they are really clean. They just replaced them with stock endlinks. But new ones.

[magz]

Of course it looks the same... The bushings were replaced on Friday and it still made the clunk sound. So on Friday they called and found out about the new TSB on the end links.

Yesterday the dealer replaced the end links and no clunk.

At this point, I really don't care what it looks like old, new, gone... That noise was killin' me. I was ready to rip out the sway bar to get rid of that noise. Even explaining to people about it became a hassle.

[Pyr0TeK]

Interesting... let us know if you get any details on it... maybe the end links are shorter or something to provide more tension etc... thanks for the info...

Of course it looks the same... The bushings were replaced on Friday and it still made the clunk sound. So on Friday they called and found out about the new TSB on the end links.

Yesterday the dealer replaced the end links and no clunk.

At this point, I really don't care what it looks like old, new, gone... That noise was killin' me. I was ready to rip out the sway bar to get rid of that noise. Even explaining to people about it became a hassle.

[Black_Protege_5]

lol. I have a feeling the clunck will just come back. It was never the endlinks clunking unless they were loose. The clunk is the sound of the bar moving back into place due to the soft bushing I beleive. We will see what happens.

[magz]

haha Yeah, i hope it doesn't come back. I've gone to dozens... I mean dozens of dealerships over and over again to find out about the clunkin' sound from FL to SC. I've replaced the bushings at least three times now.

I know at least three dealerships just gave up and stop looking into the clunk for me. The same quote: "we're not able to find a solution to the problem, sorry." You can see the new struts too... I've had the struts replaced twice now.

At least its gone and hope it doesn't come back. Just called again and the dealer is going to pull the TSB number for me. I'll holla back with it.

[Black_Protege_5]

If it does come back just get the AXR brackets. That will get rid of the clunk.

[magz]

I saw those but I think there was a huge waiting list for them. Unless I'm thinking of the wrong ones...

Also, the car is still under warranty and will be for a while longer. I only have 36,000 miles on the car. :)

[Black_Protege_5]

There was a list but everything is being shipped out. I just got the older version and will install them soon but the newer ones look much better.

[magz]

Okay I just talked to the service manager... He got with the mechanic, besides us replacing the struts, top spacer of the strut, sway bar mount, and (a few other parts that I couldn't keep up with). He said that on Friday we replaced the bushings and yesterday we replaced the endlinks. Nothing changed until yesterday... I asked him about the TSB number. The SM asked and the mechanic said it doesn't go by number but the technical service bulletins are by car/problem that included the bushings mentioned on their portal website. Probably the same TSB for the 'E' series again, but NO CLUNK. wooohooo! :D

I've had the 'e' series replaced twice before... but nothing changed. Perhaps my endlinks just needed to be replaced.

Hope this helps!

[MSpeed2397]

Get ready for it to come back...

[smo0f]

yea so this is nothing new. thanks for the effort

[TheMAN]

there is NO NEW TSB... if there was, I would've known about it
what's there is the same one that has been around since 3 years ago

so thanks for getting everyone else excited for the past 3 pages

[smo0f]

thank you captain obvious

[Nickd]

just curious if I have the same clunk sound. . . does it kind of sound like the strut is bad? cause mine does it and its buggin the hell out of me! it almost sounds like either my strut is bad(which it isnt) or the strut is loose. . .

[vinnie mack]

i have a similar sound on the right rear.. possible endlink needs to be replaced or exhaust is loose.. haven't been under to diagnose yet.

[magz]

Dude... I had my car looked at dozen and dozens of times. I know I've had the 'e' series bushings replaced twice before it finally got fixed.

It was weird cause they replaced the 'e' series on Friday, clunk all weekend... On Monday replaced the endlinks, not a sound!!

It think its the combination of bushings and endlinks that's causing the sound but I could be wrong.

[smo0f]

i think you might've had an isolated incident from what most experience as far as the clunk goes, due to the fact that the clunk temporarily disappears for most when just the bushings alone are changed. true test is to wait for a few thousand miles and see if the clunk comes back for you.

[chiefmg]

Save yourself some trouble and get the AXR kit. It relocates the bushings so they can work the way they are supposed to and not be subjected to any side loads.

[Pyr0TeK]

I bought the AWR bushings as replacements... guess what... I am clunking again after only a couple of months... which I knew would happen... it's time to Evolve...

[smo0f]

yea i have the AWR bushings as well. I'm not sure if what i have is clunk or just a lot of shit rattling in the trunk after a while of use. It's definitely not as annoyoing as the original clunk.

[Black_Protege_5]

I just put the delsing brackets on and all I can say is (omg) . What a difference. Well worth the money.

[nazgul350r]

^^^Second that had mine on for a couple of months now.

[Annie032]

i am having probs with the rear sway bar as well it squeaks everytime i go over bumps or even getting off the car....it sounds terrible...i heard about the tsb bulletin where can i get it??? i wanna take it to mazda to get it fixed

[SteelWarrior]

Evolv's Clunk fix bracket, 200 bucks, easy install..done and done :)

[livelyjay]

i am having probs with the rear sway bar as well it squeaks everytime i go over bumps or even getting off the car....it sounds terrible...i heard about the tsb bulletin where can i get it??? i wanna take it to mazda to get it fixed

If you're under warranty you can just take your car in and they will fix it for free. It may be the case that your car does not have to be under warranty, I forget how those TSBs work.

Also if you're just squeaking and not clunking, just pull the bushings off yourself, add some water resistant grease, put them back on and you're good to go (flipping them would also be wise since you're taking them off the car any ways, and by flipping I mean take the side pointing towards the middle of the car and make it point outwards).

[Annie032]

i heard that i can buy polyurethane bushings for about 30-40 dollars...will that work for a while??? maybe until i get the axr kit

[03.5msprotege]

just take the stock rubber bushing off and grease the snot out of it using some white lithium grease. That should hold you for a little while. Save the money and skip the poly bushing step.