Rattle from the rear

Q I own a 2005 Mazda3 2.0 petrol sport hatchback with 53,000 miles. It has developed a rattle at the rear. If I drive over a rough surface and gently pull on the handbrake, the rattling stops.

Looking online, it could be the brake pads at fault, with the caliper sliding bolts and the pads needing to be greased where they move within the grooves. However, the pads are nearly new. According to the handbook, no shims are needed, but the inner pad backplate is fitted with a long spring that butts up against the caliper.

I don’t want to begin a stripdown on a wild goose chase, so is there anything else I should consider?

Terence Taylor

A A rattle from the rear is quite common with the Mazda3 and, as you have proved, it can be eliminated by gently applying the handbrake, confirming the rattle is from the braking system. Before moving onto the pads, first check that the handbrake cable is not loose and is firmly fixed in place. Slightly applying the handbrake would tighten the cable and would also eliminate any noise from a moving cable.

Once you have confirmed the problem is not with the cable, the condition is most likely due to the brake pads sticking, slipping and moving. The recommended remedial action is to strip down the rear brakes, then grease the slides and contact points between the metal of the pad and the carrier.

There is also a modified set of brake pads that Mazda recommend (part no B3YP-26-48Z), although I cannot find a description of the differences between the old pads and the modified versions.