I have noticed a clunking noise in the right front when I'm braking. It occurs at about 10mph and below, under light to normal braking and only once, until I brake again. I dont feel any play in the ball joints, wheel bearings are tight. I looked at the A-arm bushings and they are not cocked off or pushing out, but there is a bit of dry rot. Is it safe to assume this is my issue, or should i look at something else yet?

 

How are the fron sway bar END LINKS???

 

Theyre only a year or so old, poly and tight.

 

I had that for a while... I replaced the ball joints and A-Arm bushings and it went away. I have no idea which it was, but there was no sense in tearing the front suspension apart and not replacing both.

For me if I jammed on the brakes you could hear and feel it clunk, and it wouldn't do it again for a while. I could drive forward to 20 mph, and do it again, and it wouldn't repeat. I could, however, reverse to 15 mph and jam the brakes, and it WOULD repeat. Then I could go back forward and it would do it again like clockwork.

Made me think it was the brake pads or brake related, but I couldnt find any evidence of that being the case, and then when I eventually rplaced my balljoint and A-arm bushings it did go away.

 

After looking at my brakes and suspension... my pads are over 50%, rotors have no hot spots or signs or warping. ball joints were replaced about 40k ago, but they might have been lower end brand, i dont remember. I plan to rebuild the front suspension this winter so the A arm bushings and ball joints will be replaced, but i just wanted to make sure there wasn't a crazy frame issue or anything i should be looking for.

 

you know.. my friend and I searched for this for a while too.. we looked at everything.. the calipers, the pads.. the joints...

turns out... it was the brake hose, not bolted/connected to the strut, so when you brake, the line flexed and banged against the strut or wheel well, making a clunk sound...

check the brake hoses

 

check your battery hold down, mine did the same thing.. strapped it down tight no more clunk