1. Inspect the dust boot on the drive shaft for cracks, damage, leaking grease, and looseness in the boot band.

2. Inspect the drive shaft for bends, cracks, and wear in the joint or splines.
Joint shaft disassembly/assembly
Drive shaft removal/installationMazda 6 Service Manual: Electrical parts
Battery cable
Before disconnecting connectors or removing electrical parts, disconnect
the negative battery cable.
Wiring Harness
To remove the wiring harness from the clip in the
engine room, pry up the hook of the clip using a
flathead screwdriver.
...
Mazda 6 Service Manual: Scheduled maintenance
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TABLE
For Europe (L.H.D. U.K.)
Chart symbols:
I : Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
(Oil-permeated air cleaner elements cannot be cleaned using the air-blow
method.)
R : Replace
T : Tighten
L : Lubricate
Remarks:
To ensure efficient oper ...