I've got a 2005 Mazda MPV-ES bought new, with 65k miles on it. I had been getting a growling noise from the right rear and figured if I was going to pull it apart I might as well put new brakes on it.
Turns out both the front and rear brakes were about 40% still there. I went ahead and put on the new ones since I had the parts. New rotors on the front also, since I had a little warpage in the old ones.
Works great now. I did some reading and it seems the growling from the rear is from the e-brake? I pulled it up a couple times and it made some funny noises (I NEVER use it). Seems better now.
Finally, my main question: When I apply the brakes in reverse, I will get a metallic creaking sound when I apply the brakes. Seems to come from the front of the car. It often will creak again when I apply them going forward, and then not occur again until I brake again while backing. This did not change in any way after I replaced the pads and rotors.
So, is it caliper pins/sliders? Or something else?
Are you sure it's the brakes and not a suspension component groaining a bit from the change in direction, then taking a "set"? One more thing on Mazdas: the metalic dust shield inboard of the brake rotor is known to
easily fold toward the rotor from a slight jolt. How do I know this? It happened three times on mine. Take a look at the rotor to dust shield clearance. Then look at the strut mounts any rust visible on the bolts/around the strut tower? If so, you may have corrosion issues with the mount. By the way, if this is a V-6 have you blown head gaskets yet?
triumph5 wrote:
Are you sure it's the brakes and not a suspension component groaining a bit from the change in direction, then taking a "set"? One more thing on Mazdas: the metalic dust shield inboard of the brake rotor is known to
easily fold toward the rotor from a slight jolt. How do I know this? It happened three times on mine. Take a look at the rotor to dust shield clearance. Then look at the strut mounts any rust visible on the bolts/around the strut tower? If so, you may have corrosion issues with the mount. By the way, if this is a V-6 have you blown head gaskets yet?
Head gaskets? Good grief no! The MPV has been perfect since new. I put new tires on last year, and this year brakes, but I could have waited. No other issues or complaints. I was not aware of any propensity for head gaskets by the 3.0. Wasn't that the 2.5 Duratec V6? This is a Mazda AJ, aka Duratec 30.
I DO suspect the suspension. I also hear a grunt from the front end when I go over a bump and the suspension unloads. But only in the cold winter weather. No rust. Vehicle lives a pampered life in Central Virginia. Always garaged.
In reply to 1988RedT2:
My brother replaced the head gaskkets TWICE on his. His was older so it may have been the smaller V-6.
The cold bump thing: sounds like a suspension thingy. Try spraying some WD-40 on/ around the suspension bushings. No sound, you found the problem.
