On a '99 Max SE with 85K miles, I get a thumping noise from the front when braking straight ahead (not turning). The brakes were done about a year ago. I'm thinking it might be the front strut upper mount/bearing. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

The bearing just allows the springs to turn, so that would only be the case if it is when you turned the wheel. It sounds like warped rotors. Do you feel it through the pedal?

 

It is actually a friend's car and after talking with him, there is not pulsating when braking. However, he informs me it is actually a 'pop' noise when he lets off the brake after braking to a stop.

 

I get the same thing sometimes. I'm thinking is a warn bushing somewhere in the suspension. That's just my guess so far. It doesn't seem to effect anything. I have 75k on my 97.

 

My friend brought his car over last evening. I was preapred to check out the whole suspension after test riding the car and hearing the 'pop' he described after coming to a stop and letting off the brake.

Simple fix but serious implications. The wheel nuts on the passenger left front wheel were very loose. Three you could turn by hand and the other 2 had about 10 ft lbs of torque on them. Torqued them to spec and no more popping. Cant imagine if he rode on this another 2 weeks and the wheel may have fallen off or broken the studs then fell off.

 

Holy ****. That's really bad. Good thing he's got a friend like you .