Power Plant Frame - how to check and fix?

Technical Area Routine Servicing
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: __NC 3.75
  2. I’m based near: __Orpington
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __PPF flexing noises, very loud ones

Only got the car 10 days ago, but even during the test drive I heard a clanging noise during a tight U-turn, but didn’t do it again.

Then during a long run on the countryside I heard a few times loud clanging noises, like a metal rod slapping. I thought they were from other cars hitting metal drain covers or something similar. But 3 times during an outing is far too often for such events.

Then I watched a youtuber with a ND describe his woes with the PPF bolts being loose (not 100NM tight) and experiencing similar symptoms.

Digging deeper I see racers performing an alignment check from underneath before tightening them to spec. Never seen this on a car before, but hey.

Tomorrow it’s booked for a service with a local Mazda dealer. Is this something I have to explicitly ask them to verify? Do they even know about this issue?

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I would (if checking myself) look for broken springs, worn or broken (they do) drop links, exhaust hangers/heat shield knocking etc. It’s also not unknown for Bilstein shocks to rattle/clang when worn but that should be a consistent noise over rutted road surfaces.

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