I am an original owner of my 97 Hatchback (CX)...great car by the way. However, she seems to like to make a creaking noise in the back right quadrant...
-only when warmed up
-only when I take my foot off the accelerator
-only at high speads
-mostly when going down hill

...and it's been doing this for about 5 months. I think it is time to get this fixed.

Trying to keep from getting wraked over the coal or waiting on hold for Cartalk.

 

push down on the back right quadrant to get it rocking so that perhaps you can reproduce the sound

 

Already performed that action and no noise.
I have also replaced the back struts.

 

Exhaust leak?

 

Okay, I know this probably isn't it, but stuck brake? I know my '96 CX e-brake cable stuck and the right rear brake locked up. I couldn't get it unstuck and had to clip the right brake cable to unstick it. Again, this probably isn't it and I know you said it only happens at certain times, but have you checked the brakes?

 

If it were the brakes, the car would probably shake and pull in a direction a little bit.

But it ONLY happens when you take your foot off the gas?

I was going to guess that it's a suspension component but taking your foot off the gas wouldn't cause any change in the assemblies that any other normal acceleration or slowing wouldn't replicate.

But when you take your foot off the gas, your engine speed decreases pretty quickly as does the flow of exhaust through the pipe. You might want to take a look at that.

 

are these disc brakes in the back, or the regular (old) shoe brakes ?

 

Drums.

 

thanxs; that kind of blows my theory - had such noise up front at high speed and it was a warped rotor. i could never figure it out and had to take it to a mechanic shop in the neighborhood - and even he had a pretty hard time of tracking it down.

 

I appreciate everyone’s input on this. I'll be taking a look at the landing gear in the rear when I get home tonight. I thought I inspected everything pretty good when I replaced the struts, but I'll double check all your comments tonight when I get home from work. I drive about 45 minutes everyday and it will be good and warmed up when I get home.

Again…Thanks a lot and let’s hope I don’t have to call Click and Clack,