Front End klunking After Brake Job?

[silverbird22]

Did stock rotors and pads last week. Had to also replace the driver side caliper bracket due to a frozen sliding bushing/bolt.
I now get a klunking/clicking sound from the front end during slow speed braking.
I only happens on slow speed braking around 15MPH to zero.. The brakes seem smooth.
Any ideas what I should check?
No probems during my last brake job at 60,000 miles.
Car now has 120,000.
I'm at a loss.
Thanks for any advice.
Silverbird

[WhiskeySierra6]

I had this happen to me. Check which side it is, then make sure that your caliper bracket bolts are tightened down enough. My front left top one wasn't and it was doing exactly what you're describing. Every time I stepped on the brake the rotor was pulling the caliper back into place. If that's the problem, pull the bolt back out, put some loctite on it and retighten it. That should do the trick.

[JoshieDoom]

Have the same issue. Everything is tight. Still makes the popping sound.

[silverbird22]

Checked and re-torqued everything.........still making the klunking noise as described.
Does not do it in reverse or during higher forward speeds.
Braking feels smooth.
Thanks for the input.
Silverbird

[0rion]

did you by chance check your tie rod ends while you were under there?

[JoshieDoom]

<-------both of mine already replaced.

[astyles]

my caliper fell off once.....i check them always

[shadowsnkx]

I'm having a similar issue. eager to see how you solve it...lol

[Transam388]

I had a similar issue once but it sounds like you checked all the bolts.

I had one of the caliper mount bolts come out on the bottom so whenever I slowly pressed the brakes the caliper would actually hit the inside of the wheel and sort of continually "Tap" the rim so long as I was on the brakes. As you said though this only happened when at slow speeds I guess because when you brake harder the force would keep the caliper butted up against the wheel so you would hear it maybe once but then it would not tap.

Anyhow I would say to go to each caliper and see if you can move it at all. Maybe take each wheel off again and see if you can visably see any fresh marks on the top of the calipers to indicate which it might be. If nothing else then you have found which brake is causing the noise.

Good luck

[kool-aide]

does it clunk when you turn in or out of a parked spot? Not turning on the road while driving but a turn like into a drive way or out?

The caliper my be stuck or bad. I don't know why I said stuck. Maybe the right term is loose? I had one go out a week after a break job, new pads and rotors like you. It was weird.

I would hear a clunk at very low speeds and when I would back out of the drive way. I replaced the caliper and it has been almost a 1.5 years now.

[JoshieDoom]

My clunks at low speed while turning especially and when comming to a slow stop. It only does it once then it doesnt do it till I stop driving for a couple of hours...

[axxdet]

my caliper fell off once.....i check them always

yeah my rear top mounting bolt came out before....real bad, start grinding on my rim...Lock tite from there on out

[kool-aide]

if not a bad caliper the next thing would be how much play is in the control arm busings. I know it was mentioned you had the ball joints replaced, but don't for get old nasty rubber bushings.

I still have a clunk you can hear when turning right to or jerky the wheel back and forth. This is not related to the bad caliper. I had both upper and lower ball joints replaced too. The only thing I have left are 102k+ mile old rubber bushings.

if you can have some one look at the caliper to see if it is bad. Just to be paranoid i replaced both of my front calipers at the same time, lol...

I would think a bad caliper should still give you a low metal to metal sounding grind when driving. I first thought my newer caliper was bad, but I only hear a clunk, no grinding.

so i would say check the caliper and the bushings. Hopefully it is one of those two.