Clunk under braking

sperry · #1 11-01-2005, 05:41 PM

I've got a bit of a clunk under braking.

When I 1st apply the brakes and the car pitches I can hear something from the driver's side firewall clunk. It's been doing it for maybe two months or so... but it's recently started getting worse.

If I don't brake hard, it doesn't happen. If I brake really hard, it clunks extra loud, then the next time I accelerate I hear it "un-clunk". I can't seem to get it to happen with the car stopped and jumping on the door sill or anything... only seems to happen while driving, but it's easily repeatable. Also, I can kinda "feel" the clunk through the pedals.

I'm thinking my LF strut is blown, and it's binding and unsticking when the car pitches forward... but it could be the engine or tranny mounts, perhaps.

Is anyone familiar with this noise, before I go and start poking around every little nook and cranny under the car?

Earthworm · #2 11-01-2005, 05:48 PM

Can you reproduce the sound by "bouncing" the car?

Seraph · #3 11-01-2005, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperry

I've got a bit of a clunk under braking.

I go and start poking around every little nook and cranny under the car?

If you have not done that yet, you can not call yourself a SVX owner yet.

sperry · #4 11-01-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthworm

Can you reproduce the sound by "bouncing" the car?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperry

I can't seem to get it to happen with the car stopped and jumping on the door sill or anything...

Nope.... only with the car rolling.

mbtoloczko · #5 11-01-2005, 08:22 PM

Does it clunk going over bumps (without any braking)?

sperry · #6 11-01-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seraph

If you have not done that yet, you can not call yourself a SVX owner yet.

Well, I have gotten under there and looked around. Which prompted me to have to replace a busted axle... So, I try to avoid getting under there, as it tends to cost me money.

sperry · #7 11-01-2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbtoloczko

Does it clunk going over bumps (without any braking)?

Good question... I don't think I've really noticed it, but I can't tell for sure, since I haven't gone looking for bumps. I think it's the actual pitching of the car that causes it, not just the compression of the strut... which it making me think "engine mount".

AvPPoW · #8 11-01-2005, 08:42 PM

rev the car in neutral and let go, if it does it it's the motor mount

oab_au · #9 11-02-2005, 02:36 AM

Loose caliper bolts,or worn caliper slide pins.

Harvey.

sperry · #10 11-02-2005, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oab_au

Loose caliper bolts,or worn caliper slide pins.

Harvey.

That would surprise me, since the clunk doesn't happen every time I brake, only when I brake hard enough. Also, I can distinctly feel it in the firewall, which makes me think it the strut translating through the top mount.

msvx95 · #11 11-02-2005, 01:48 PM

Not sure if the brake booster would cause a sound like that? Do you feel anything in the pedal when the noise happens?

sperry · #12 11-02-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msvx95

Not sure if the brake booster would cause a sound like that? Do you feel anything in the pedal when the noise happens?

It could be. I can feel the clunk in the pedal, but it certainly isn't directly against the pedal. However, if the booster were loose, I'd expect to feel it every time I hit the pedal (and even when parked) rather than only when it's under a significant amount of braking.