I30 with 130k. When I am braking going straight, just before the car comes to a stop there is a loud pop (like metal to metal) in the front. It happens on both sides in the front suspension area. I can even hear it when my wife drops me at the bus stop from about 70 feet and she stops at the traffic light.
I am also able to reproduce it on my driveway by going back and forth and it pops just before the car comes to a stop going forward (don't have it on the backward stop). I started hearing it about 6 months ago. Any suggestions?

 

sounds like worn bushings. Check/replace sway bar end links and sway bar bushings. 50 bucks total for parts.

If that not it, then check the struts.

 

I changed the struts last year to KYB
changed the lca to Mevotech last year

As I mentioned the sounds started about 6 months ago. Since then I changed the sway bar link on the driver's side to see if it fixes it as well as the lower caliper pins on both sides (they were rusted).
The only thing haven't changed is the sway bar bushings. My hope is that the Mevotech lca bushings have not given up after a year. That would be disappointing.

 

Im thinking bout doing my bushings. Cant go wrong with OEM man. THe bushings are cheap. The end links were a lil pricey. But i hear u about the LCAs. that stinks.

 

The car is automatic? My guess is the front engine mount.

 

car is automatic. My issue is that I can hear 2 separate bangs on each side. I don't hear it coming from the very front...
I checked the torque members, but they seemed well tightened.

 

Does your steering change at all under braking? That would point directly at your control arm bushings.

My next idea is to just record it since it's easily replicable, if someone hears the sound maybe it'll jog their memory and then viola problem solved!!!

 

Ive heard break pads make a noise like that. do you have all the anti rattle clips in the pads?

 

My steering does not change when braking.
I also changed the brake pads last year or so, but am pretty sure that did not leave the anti-rattle springs behind. I have change pads and rotors too many times to miss that.
Also when the pop/bang happens I can somehow feel it either in the brake pedal or the steering. I have to pay attention exactly where I feel it. It is like something is under pressure and disconnects and hits metal again. Not just a clung.

 

My '97SE does this too. I'm changing the oil this weekend so I'm gonna look hard for the culprit. I too believe that it could be the engine or trans mount as well.

 

Anti rattle clips? We dont have those on our cars. We have the shims and retainer clips.

O wait a sec...I think the inner pads has a clip of some sort on it. It that what u referring to?? ?

 

u check sway bar bracket bushings?

 

I am going to Nissan tomorrow to buy the sway bar bushings and will change one of them this weekend to see if it solves the problem. I kind of feel that the sway bar is only engaged when going over bumps or into wholes one wheel at a time, but will try that route anyway. Will let you know.

 

I'm referring to the four stainless clips in each caliper bracket.

 

check your calipers bolts and brackets one of my bolts got loose and made a thunking like that

 

I changed the sway bar bushings a couple of weeks ago, but did not make a difference. Tried to tighten the caliper + bracket bolts, but did not fix it either.

 

might be loose ball joints on the LCAs.

I replaced my worn swar bar endlinks and bushings and some improvement but still could hear a noise. My ball joints are toast and need replacement