Hi,

I've had this persistent problem now with my brakes that I still can't figure out. When I brake hard, I'll hear a clunk right from the front before the car comes to a stop. The noise occurs at about 5 mph. I nice smooth stop won't do it.

Changing the pads/rotors doesn't seem to make a difference. I've also had my brake fluid replaced and that didn't make a difference either.

Any ideas what this could be?

Thanks

 

check into the suspension parts. Hear any other noises when going over bumps or anything?

 

Usually strut mounts

 

No noises when going over bumps. I have Tokico Illuminas for struts but I was getting the clunking before they were installed. I get a similar noise when I turn the steering wheel hard while holding down the brake, but I'm not sure if it's related.

 

i think it's the abs doing it's job cuz my friends 04 sl does the same as well as mine but only when turning while on the brake hard.

 

I think you might be on to something. But I'm not feeling any pulsation in the brake pedal to indicate that the ABS is activated.

 

Is it an automatic? Could it be the car shifting faster than usual back into first gear?

pimperz- that is a killer pic, why does ur car look so good/clean?

 

Sounds like a wheel bearing, I had the same problem on my 95

 

thanks i had just washed it. but as i said before it's the braking system on these cars, the pedal don't pulsate but you hear the clunking with the wheel turned while braking hard.

 

I've been having the same probelm for a while, only from rear side. I thought it was caused by the brakes, pad or rotor, because the clunking noise starts with braking almost everytime. But the brakes were checked and OK.
If it's caused by a bad strut mount, how much is it normally for a shop to replace it?

 

1. check to make sure the main hub nut is tight (it's a 32mm or 37mm nut, IIRC)

2. check to make sure the bolts holding the calipers on are tight

3. to check if ABS is the cause, pull the ABS fuse under the hood and then drive and see if it still makes the noise.

4. check wheel bearing for play by jacking car, hands on the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions on the wheel and pull back and forth feelign for movement.

5. make sure you have all the correct brake caliper hardware installed correctly (i.e. spring clips)

6. if none of those are the issue, you should pull the strut off the car and check the upper strut bearing to see if it has cracked or broken. It's the small gray plastic piece at the very top of the strut, just above the upper spring perch. To check it you willhave to compress the springs and remove the top hat.

 

If the strut mount is bad enough, you can open the hood look at the mount and then move the car around. If you see the bolt in the middle of the strut mount moving around, the mount is bad.

Basically the mount consists of a metal plate that has a large rubber mount inside of it. When the rubber disconnects from the metal plate, you get that clunking sound - if it is bad, it will get worse and eventually you'll hear it on just about any bump you hit.