Front end Clunk. Help

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Old 02-18-2016, 06:48 AM
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Front end Clunk. Help

Here's my issue. My front passenger side is resonating a noise when I hit the Brakes. Braking is normal until it reaches under 15mph going down to 0....jus before comming to a stop theres a Clunk. At first I thought it was my Pads, Had those replaced. Then It didnt go away, so I replaced my tie rods because there were signs of wear. Still, its there. Visually, All my ball joints seems to be okay. By axle seems to be fine also. I'm Officaly stumped. Ive search thru several forums even across Makes. Unfortunately the FIX was never posted. >.<
Old 02-18-2016, 07:27 AM
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Suspension noise can be a lot of things.
Since you mentioned you changed the pads, how are the rotors looking?
With that corner in the air, is there any unusual free play? Things may look ok visually but busted under the boots.
How many miles on your car? Shocks may be shot.
Is everything suspension-wise tightened down?


And Occam's razor thought .. are the lugs torqued correctly?
Old 02-18-2016, 07:30 AM
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did you resurface the rotors when pads were replaced.??
Old 02-18-2016, 07:32 AM
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wait... your title says "clunk" and your OP says "resonating a noise" which is it?
Old 02-18-2016, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by ulrblitzer
Suspension noise can be a lot of things.
Since you mentioned you changed the pads, how are the rotors looking?
With that corner in the air, is there any unusual free play? Things may look ok visually but busted under the boots.
How many miles on your car? Shocks may be shot.
Is everything suspension-wise tightened down?


And Occam's razor thought .. are the lugs torqued correctly?
Rotors has 1.5 yr on them. The old pads didnt look like it was worn unevenly. I just took my pads out to grease the caliper pins yesterda and they seem fine. I got 78k on the car 2009 model. I did check the suspension, no grease or oil around it. it can still take a pot hole smoothly. I also the did 9-3 and 12-6 position checks and theres not alot of play just short clicks, but I was told thats okay? should there be any movement at all?
Old 02-18-2016, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by thoiboi
wait... your title says "clunk" and your OP says "resonating a noise" which is it?
Sorry its a Clunk. I should fix that lol
Old 02-18-2016, 08:35 AM
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I just want to clarify that I have no issue turning, running over pot holes and braking. I dont know for some reason it just decides to CLUNK in the middle of Winter >.< when I come to a complete stop.
Old 02-18-2016, 08:44 AM
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Lower ball joint.
Old 02-18-2016, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by D4nnyD
Lower ball joint.
is there a way to confirm it?
Old 02-18-2016, 03:02 PM
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Does it happen when you're taking off as well? Does it squeak?
Old 02-18-2016, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by iSeeYouTwo
Does it happen when you're taking off as well? Does it squeak?
Nope just when I brake and come to a complete stop. no squeak. Just a clunk
Old 02-19-2016, 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by hytekazn
Nope just when I brake and come to a complete stop. no squeak. Just a clunk
Did you torque down the caliper bolts properly, had similar issue last year, I went back and re-did the bolts with a torque wrench at 37lbs (front) and clunking noise was gone.
Old 02-20-2016, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by icu2tsx
Did you torque down the caliper bolts properly, had similar issue last year, I went back and re-did the bolts with a torque wrench at 37lbs (front) and clunking noise was gone.
I will retorque them to spec tp see if that works. I just tighten them up as best as i could by hand But its worth a try.
Old 02-26-2016, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by hytekazn
is there a way to confirm it?
Theres a TSB for lower ball joints giving problems when the weather is warm. I had mine replaced under warranty because of that same clunking noise when coming to stop and accelerating. To replicate the sound i had to come to stop and slightly lift my foot off the brake pedal to hear and "feel" the clunk.

If you allow the suspension to hang for a while, such as the car being on a lift, then the sound will go away for a day or so and return. Those were my symptoms which coincide with the TSB schedule. If your case sounds the same, most likely its the lower ball joints.
Old 02-26-2016, 12:34 PM
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Ok so since nobody is really pointing you in the right direction ill tell you what I think it may be.

Could be a couple of things but most likely will be

- Ball joint (Easiest way to check would be jacking up the front end and with your hands shake the tire left and right and up and down) without actually moving the tire left and right. If you can feel play left and right it will be either a bad tie rod end, inner tie rod or ball joint. Up and down will either be bad wheel bearing or bad ball joint. You would need an additional set of eyes to see the actual play.

Could also be your inner control arm bushing or even a mount that could be ripped on part of the rubber.

You can't inspect ball joints visibly. You will need to jack up the suspension with either a jack or a lift and also use a pry bar.

Brakes don't usually clunk unless you left the carrier loose or there's a gap on the ears of the pad that are not touching the carrier. Try moving the pad up and down to see if they are loose while they are in the carrier. You will have to take off the caliper and move the pad up and down.

Did the clunking start after you did the brakes?

Last edited by JasonK; 02-26-2016 at 12:39 PM.
Old 04-06-2016, 11:29 AM
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I had the same issue when I got my brakes replaced. The problem I had was the mechanic didn't put that grease onto the caliper where the brake pads go. When I was getting my upper ball joint replaced, the mechanic told me it was my brakes that needs to be geased. When he greased the calipers, the clunk went away.
Old 06-18-2016, 10:01 AM
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I think this is the same issue i've just been living with for a while. clunk once the car warms up and i come to a low speed stop or begin to slowly accelerate (think stop and go traffic). Since i have a stick I think I isolated it to not being the brakes as if i'm on a flat road and can keep the car stopped without the brake once i lift up the clutch to begin moving i get the "clunk". But i did change my brakes and rotors about 1.5 years ago, not sure if this is when i noticed this problem starting or not. I did use a torque wrench when tightening all bolts and even greased the back of the pads. I also get it when moving the steering wheel while stopped.

Brought it to my mechanic of course he couldn't reproduce the sound. He said he put it on a lift and looked at ball joints, bushings, tie rod ends and all seemed ok. Told me to bring it back if/when it makes the noise again.

Thoughts?
Old 06-18-2016, 10:48 AM
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Motor mounts
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