Mazda MK2 MX5 1.6 Manual 1998. Car has a genuine mileage of 59,000 miles - owned it for just one year this month.
Car has had its new MOT two weeks ago, recent service (6,000 miles) just after its MOT. New brake pads in April, all round.
I noticed in the last few days a high ptiched squeak and at times ( like an eeeek…eeek - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-eeeeeeeeeeee king) squeal noise when turning the steering wheel to the left (i.e going around corner or just turning the car - but not full lock). Its the front tyre (passenger side). I know of brake dust and see to getting this cleaned of but it makes not difference - the noise comes and go’s (more so apparent in the dry and not the wet weather conditions)
Its that noisy at times that people walking as I drive past them turndue to the noise of the high loud sqeal…
Also when driving I hear a noise croming from the front area of the car. It sounds like a thud noise (i.e. If you imagine you had an empty boot in your car and chucked in a few items and could hear them rolling around - then this is similar to the thudding noise I hear) The thudding noise seems to be a swinging thudding noise (like items rulling back and fro)
I also feel there is almost like a splodge sound (like there is water in with the thudding - i.e. imagine having a water bottle full of fluid - e.g. windscreen container but fullish - you shake it gently - the noise it would make would sound like a dull splodge as the fluid hit the inside of the container - that is the other noise I hear in with the thudding).
I wonder if its a caliper problem that I had looked at some time ago (March) and told the caliper was seizing and yet another service centre cleaned it up and said it was fine…perhaps the caliper is not fine at all? The piston of it is seemingly - so I was told free and the rubber area around and where the piston of the caliper is fine.
I spoke with a garage on the phone and they gave some indication that the squeal noise may be down to a disc problem and the noise on driving is down to water in the door sills (blocked rain drainage holes)…!
Anyone give some indication of the problem(s) please?
My aplogy for the late reply to your answers…work committments per usual!..
Thank you for your very informative and appreciated responses.
In the meantime, I have had the car looked at…seems the mechanic states there is a likely top ball or bottom ball joint worn (apparently there are three ball joints on the car wheel area(s) so it may be the other ball joint apart from the top or bottom or all three joints are seeing wear or worn that is making the thudding sloshing noise.
The brake pad apparently is said to be causing the squeal on the passenger near side - but funnily enough same brake pad make on the driver near side and that doesnt make the squeal or squeaking on turning, driving or braking. The front brake pads were replaced in March this year. I am not a hard braker but a gradual careful braker so somewhat confused over this squeal and squeaking noise just on that particualr wheel. The mechanic states its not the caliper - they cleaned it previously and said it was ‘free’ and no need to replace.
He told me to get bluepoint brake pads and that should put a stop to the squeal and squeaking. I had this squeal an squeak before the new brake pads were put on in March and yet the pads on the car (done in March) are not worn or needing replacement…so somewhat er a bit tad confused unless its down to the fact the brake pads on are not exactly a top make!
Your opinion would be appreciated as indeed any others
