Hey guys, I seem to be having a popping/clunking noise when I brake. This only occurs if i'm coming to a stop while going slowly. As I could be going 60mph and brake lightly or hard, and it's perfectly fine.

Going over bumps or rough roads will not cause the noise to appear.

Turning will not cause the noise to suddenly appear. (It can if I am braking and turning. But this happens on straight roads while I am braking as well. In both situations, I am moving slowly, coming to a stop.)

This started to occur awhile back which I simply ignored, as it comes and goes.

Recently I changed out the pads in the front, and noticed that the shims were gone, I doubt that this would cause a noise issue... But just thought i'd throw that in. I simply replaced the old pads, and placed the new ones in without shims, as I did not want to drive down to the dealer to get the hardware kit.

Any clue as to what this may be?

Thanks in advance.

 

I drive a 4th gen as well with about 130k miles and I've noticed in the last few months whenever I'm going through a parking lot or w/e I feel a clunking noise almost in the brake pedal. I believe it occurs not only when u tap the break but just going really slowly. I have no idea what it is, however, I thought maybe parking brake cable fault?

 

So, just to clarify, it seems like this is occurring not when the front of the car dives under braking, but right after you stop and the car is rocking back to assume a neutral/natural stance. Right?

 

does it do it when ur braking in nuetral?

 

I had a very similar issue for a while, ended up being the sway bar end links.

 

It will make the sound when the car stops and assumes a neutral/natural stance, yes (one pop/clunk). But that is not the only time it happens. It will also happen when i'm slowing down (multiple pop/clunks) to a point where it can return to the natural stance, then it's one pop.

As for braking in neutral, I haven't tested that out. Thinking it's a transmission issue?

Hmm... would be a place to start looking into. Bushings I take it? I'm not exactly a car guru (I use a Haynes book...) but I do try to do things that I can without needing any heavy duty hardware. I can't seem to find any mention regarding sway bar end links in my book, is there a link on how to proceed with this?

Thanks.

 

I almost posted a thread regarding this same issue...ive only had my '99 Max for 2 weeks. I've noticed the EXACT problem u r describing being that it seems to only make a noise while slowly coasting to a stop (sounds similar to imaging a basketball just rolled in your trunk and made a bump noise...so i'm assuming it's probably nothing and just annoying, or maybe somehow the calipers are not working together right, or maybe even something with the parking brake even...don't know but i 2 would be interested in seeing if this 2 is another typical find with this generation max...funny though it only happens when slowly coasting to a stop periodically.

 

I agree with nearthisbridge and say it is the sway bar end links. If you were in a parking lot with the wheel turned over half way and go forward and apply the brakes and then go backwards and apply the brakes you should get a pop from a worn sway bar end link. Do it turned to the right and then do it to the left. A fairly easy job to fix but buy quality links.

 

I seem to get a popping sound when I am backing up and I first apply the brakes. In other words, I put the car in drive, drive away...when I stop, I put it in park. As I get ready to leave and I put the car in reverse, I push the pedal in and at about halfway, I feel a pop (in the pedal even). Could this be sway bar links or possibly the caliper piston popping out? I am baffled...this has happened with my old and new calipers, so either I installed them incorrectly or the sound is not coming from the calipers...

 

Hi how are you guys? I have a 1995 maxima, recently the engine started making this wierd knocking noise whenever is on gears not when the car is on idle, I took it to this mechanic to make sure it wasnt the timing chain and he said is not the timing chain or the tensioner he said it might be something wrong with the valves, which still doesnt convince me, any help would be appreciate it, please help.

 

I had this issue a while back, but then it's gone when I changed my front rotors. Which possibly the brake piston. The Shop checked the calipers and make sure they're in good working order. If I'm not mistaken, he told me that the piston was a bit sticking.