Anyone else out there find this car suffers from high road noise?
Its my wifes car, and I love driving it otherwise, but I find the road noise irritatingly high at above 60ish mph on motorways etc.
Also, the front suspension is a bit "clunky" on my local rough Berkshire roads at low speeds. I describe it as making "knocky-knocky" sounds if that means anything to you.
Compared with my 9 year old Peugeot 406 it seems very noisy to me anyway on both counts.
Anyone know where I can get a soundproofing kit for it?
A mechanic has told me that Mazda have made the rubber bushes in the supension too hard - which is probably why the car handles so well otherwise!
So, he says soundproofing wont help much since the noise is coming up through the suspension arms, springs and shocks into the bodywork.
I wonder if later models and particularly the new 2010 model has been improved in this respect?
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That's the way it is, it suffers from road noise and harsh ride, the Mazda mechanic is right.
The new version of the Mazda 3 is very much superior, test drive one and you'll be surprised. Sell the old version and replace with the newer version.
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Thanks Mike! have to wait till next year she says!
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hi what tyres have you got on, usually noise is from the rear rub your hand over the inner edge is it unven/ delainated ifso i would replace the rear tyres and get the rear alignment done (not just the trackig the rear can be adjusted dont get fobbed off it cant) hope this helps
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The 323 I used to have was also noisy on the road and had a harsh ride: the suspension wasn't quite either. Dealer fobbed me off by saying it was all down to 'sports suspension'.
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The choice of tyres can have a considerable effect on the road noise.
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Freesprit - that "knocky-knocky" noise is from the front suspension bushes. But your mechanic is incorrect.
The front suspension bushes are fluid filled and not rubber. They are a Ford development (the cars chassis is based on a Focus). The bushes are meant to resist movement in cornering (which is good) whilst allow movement for going over bumps (also good). They do however make this noise which you describe.
The Mazda 3 did get a facelift and more sound proofing was added - thinsulate material in the roof and behind the dash (on the Sport). Its noticeably quieter driving the pre and post facelifted models.
I've yet to drive the new 3, but the press say its a good car improved in most ways - except for the road noise. Which apparently falls behind the class leader - Golf MK 6.
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There not fluid type bushes, they were modified in aug 05 for a grinding noise when turning, there was also a modification for a banging noise cause by the strut top bush released at the same time your dealer should have the info thakes arround 2-3 hours for both mods.
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I had similar problem changed rear bearing hubs etc, noise too loud as Iam a high mileage airport transfer taxi and got too loud to talk to each other.
Was tyres in the end was using Uniroyal with a V pattern and they were rotational.
Now I have a set of continentals with straight tyre grooves and the car is so quiet..!!!
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