☰
GET A QUOTE

Q: Strong knocking from front driver's side and passenger side when making turns left OR right.

asked by on May 24, 2016

I have a 1995 Mazda Protege SE (or ES?) 4 cylinder, 1.8L Double Overhead Cam. Front wheel drive. I do NOT hear any weird noises or vibration when driving straight. However, whenever I turn left OR right, a hard knocking sound is heard and felt through the floor of the car in the front. It is felt on both driver's side and passenger side through the floor where our feet are. There is no vibration or wandering when driving straight or turning, but the hard KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK is heard on both sides and felt on both sides in the front when turning either direction. There is no noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. It first started on the driver's side of the car, and now includes the passenger side of the vehicle. This happens regardless of the type of road I'm on. I do not hear any noises when going over bumps or uneven roadways. The noise started about 3 months ago as an almost tapping or ticking noise, continues to get worse- louder and now makes the knocking noise.

My car has 100000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Recommended Services

Clunking or knocking noise from wheels Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote
Or For Any Other Auto Repairs Get a Quote

The steering rack and pinion assembly is mounted in rubber bushings; they may be deteriorated and allowing the rack and pinion to contact the sub frame making the knocking noise.

The other component to look at is the struts upper bearing and rubber bushing. These get dry of lubricant and should be lubed with a teflon grease when installed so the rubber will not get damaged.

Have someone feel the top of the strut mount under the hood while the steering is turned back and forth to see if the knocking or popping is in the strut. The rack and pinion bushings should be inspected from under the vehicle.

If either or both are bad then they will need to be replaced.

A mobile mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, can come to your home or business to inspect the knocking noise at your home or business.

Mazda
Noises
engine knock
1995
L4-1.8L
Protege
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I use the Uconnect emergency assistance?
If you are in an emergency and unable to access your cell phone, you can use Uconnect, as long as your phone is paired with the Uconnect system. To use emergency assistance, press the Uconnect phone button, which is located...
Read more
Car won't go into reverse.
The manual transmission on these vehicles had a bad reverse gear design and was very prone to failure after getting worn. The transmission reverse gears do not engage enough in these transmissions and after the gear wears will not engage...
Read more
Alignment off on 2007 Dodge Caliber
Hi there! The primary cause of excessive tire tread wear is a faulty tie rod or ball joint. A worn ball joint or tie rod will produce excessive tire wear because it causes the alignment to become out of spec....
Read more
Shuts off while driving
The main cause of engine stall on this particular model vehicle is the mass air flow sensor. Normally, this will generate a code on the ECM, that can be detected with a scan tool. The MAF sensor generates a waveform...
Read more
When I stop my car shakes really bad.
I really need more information to give any sort of advice that might help you out. What is for certain, a car that shakes is not running well. Since this occurring while your car is at a stop, you may...
Read more
Check engine light on , 2012 Hyundai Sonata
Hello, a common issue with Hyundai engines is the camshaft and crank shaft position sensors failing consistently. These sensors detect where the camshaft and crankshaft are in relation to each and when they fail, the vehicle usually goes into limp...
Read more
My car has idling problems that come and go
The biggest problem with inconsistent engine idle issues is trying to diagnose them. However, there are a few other components you haven't listed that might be faulty. The first is the throttle position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/throttle-position-sensor-replacement). It's likely your Mitsubishi has...
Read more
Does my car have airbags?
Air bags were not mandatory in vehicles until 1998 in the United States. You would see an air bag light come on the dash and then go out when you first turn on the key if you were equipped with...
Read more
No start issue: crank but no spark- replaced ignition coil
The starter will not have any impact on the engine's ability to produce spark. There are a number of issues that may cause an ignition system to not produce spark. A bad crankshaft position (CKP) sensor (on engines that do...
Read more

Related articles

A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Mazda CX-7
If If you want an SUV, but don’t care as much about the “utility” part as you do the “sport” features, you should take a look at what the 2012 Mazda CX-7 has to offer. Key Features With a turbo...
Read more
The Best Used Cars to Buy for Occasional Drivers
Not Not everyone relies on their car on a daily basis. Maybe you aren’t the type that deals with a daily commute, and running from here to there constantly. If that’s the case, you may be looking for a car...
Read more
How to Troubleshoot a Car With Clutch Noise
Clutch systems create noise if there is a damaged clutch master cylinder, clutch pedal, pressure plate, clutch disc, flywheel, or pilot bearing.
Read more

Browse other content

Cars
Maintenance
Services
Estimates