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I have developed a tinny rattling noise from my drivers side front wheel area on my 02 NB 97K. It only appears over rough bumps in the road, minor bumps it's all quiet. Haven't had the wheel off yet. Taking it to my mechanic to put on the hoist in a few days.
In the mean time, what could I expect to be the problem? Does this point to a certain MX5 problem?
Cheers

possibly a sway bar end link has gone bad

I had a noise like that from the rear of the NC. Turned out to be loose disc pads on one side. A bit of brake grease on the pad shims did the trick.

Try hitting the tyre sidewall hard on each side with your hand or a rubber mallet and see if the noise can be reproduced.

If so, get someone to step on the brakes and try again. If noise stops - most likely brake calliper or pad loose. If noise still there or you can't make it happen - hoist or jack needed for more investigation of suspension - probably what Regie said.

You say only over rough bumps.
So is it a rattle or a knock?
Can you feel it though the steering wheel when it occurs?

Brake dust shield? Loose number plate?

Luke wrote:You say only over rough bumps.
So is it a rattle or a knock?
Can you feel it though the steering wheel when it occurs?

Tinny rattle, definitely not a knock and cannot feel it through the steering wheel at all, Handles fine. As Okibi said may be a brake dust shield, def sounds like it could be. Thanks

Brake dust shields have 3 bolts holding them on, all mounted behind the front Hubs.
You would want to be really sure before bothering removing the Wheels, brake callipers, rotors and hub to check these.

So this may be hard to tell but does it sound metallic or plastic?

There are so many parts that could rattle.
All the plastic under trays, guard splash shield etc just clip on so could be suspects.

Had it on the hoist today, my mechanic went over the whole front end. He said "all is as tight as a drum" and could not find anything at all that could be the culprit. The brake dust shield may have been the problem and bent it accordingly. Test drive was a long one as where do you find a shitty road when you need one! Could not replicate the noise so I guess we'll wait and see.
Thanks for the replies.
Cheers

Only happened after you changed brake pads? Missing anti-rattle clips, allowing pads to move and rattle against piston or mounts.

I had a similar issue coming from "somewhere" around the passenger footwell. Checked everything I could inside and out. Another member mentioned the bonnet hinge. Shoved some foam in there and went for a drive along my local bumpy roads and the rattle was gonski.