Front drivers side wheel clunking noise while going slow over bumps?

[mcanedo92588]

Had this start happening 3-4 weeks ago, now it seems to be a little worse. It appears to only happen on my drivers side wheel while going slow over bumps or up driveways. I took it to a shop and they said they didn't see anything wrong with my front end steering parts other than a bad bushing on a couple control arms but everything was really solid and nothing looked out of place. They said it "sounded like" there was something loose between the caliper and rotor on each side, and whatever they did to test that it supposedly did the same thing on both sides which doesn't make sense since only the drivers wheel clunks? I also had someone from a local group help me inspect the control arms and tie rods and he also found a few bad bushing (one lower and one upper per side) and said that might be the cause also, but again it was the same on both the drivers side and passenger side which wouldn't it mean that I should be hearing the clunking sound like something is loose from both sides? I will probably swing by another shop and see if I can get another free inspection, but does anyone have any other thoughts or areas I should check? I have had the wheel retorqued a few times to see if that was the problem, didn't help.

[diagnosticator]

Clunking like you describe is often the brake pads rattling in the calipers. It's amazing how much noise the pads can make. Try driving over the bumps that provoke the noise, and lightly apply the brakes. If the noise stops, that proves the pads are loose in the calipers.

[mcanedo92588]

This may be a stupid question, but if it was loose, how would I go about tightening it back up so the brake pad would stop clunking around? The same way as changing the pads, those bolts on the back of the caliper holding it on? I am probably going to stop by my tire shop tomorrow and have them check it out and see if everything around that area looks good to them since most of the shops will be closed.

[old guy]

It's usually the outer pad that clunks. Pull the pads and put some CRC Brake Quiet on the back of them. That should cure the clunk.

[JayDog747]

First, replace the rubber bushings that the guide pins slide into. I recommend Tyrolsport brake stiffener. Second, you had two different people tell you you have bad control arm bushings. You should do a complete front end refresh including inner and outer tie rods, upper strut mount bushings.

What is the mileage?

[mcanedo92588]

First, replace the rubber bushings that the guide pins slide into. I recommend Tyrolsport brake stiffener. Second, you had two different people tell you you have bad control arm bushings. You should do a complete front end refresh including inner and outer tie rods, upper strut mount bushings.

What is the mileage?

I just hit 140k but had all that replaced less than 2 years ago... I also don't have the money to do that right now after having countless other things repaired/replaced and just graduating college and having over $40,000 in student loans. I am going to sell the car before I put any more major money in to it. Just looking for anything temporary or cheap that may be the solution.

[mcanedo92588]

Well, got tired of the sound and went to a brake speciality shop for a free inspection, finally someone that knows what they are doing. Brakes are fine, but apparently my front drivers axel is moving around. There is 1 bolt missing on the side opposite of the rotor, and you can take your hand and kind of slide it back and forth and recreate the sound that I was hearing while driving. It apparently also was causing axel fluid to leak and sludge up around the back of the rotor. This has been going on for about a month and a half now so "supposidly" if I just replace the bolt the sound should go away. I don't see how it is still sliding around though with like 4 other bolts holding it in place, I know the axel is the problem, but is it really being cause by that 1 bolt?

Video to problem I posted: https://youtu.be/lUSiOSd6TVo

[dashrsp]

I'm hearing a similar sound. How can I check if it's the brake pads or not?

[mcanedo92588]

I would just suggest finding a brake shop and asking for a free inspection. If not possible, do what old guy suggested above ^^. You can find a video on YouTube for how to remove the brake pads, but if you remove the back one you need the special compression tool you can rent for free at O'Reilly's to install it back. Doesn't seem hard, but doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun either lol. Try checking my video and see if you have the same issue as me with the axel. https://youtu.be/lUSiOSd6TVo

[lookaught]

The axle play is normal. That bolt missing wouldnt cause the sound.

take apart the calipers and put on grease on the back of the pads.

You might also look into the subframe crimp problem, that makes noises that sound like clunks at low speeds, particularly when going from reverse to forwards at slow speed.

[mcanedo92588]

The axle play is normal. That bolt missing wouldnt cause the sound.

take apart the calipers and put on grease on the back of the pads.

You might also look into the subframe crimp problem, that makes noises that sound like clunks at low speeds, particularly when going from reverse to forwards at slow speed.

The clunking only happens at slow speeds going over bumps, once I get to about 15mph then it doesn't make the sound.

[dashrsp]

I would just suggest finding a brake shop and asking for a free inspection. If not possible, do what old guy suggested above ^^. You can find a video on YouTube for how to remove the brake pads, but if you remove the back one you need the special compression tool you can rent for free at O'Reilly's to install it back. Doesn't seem hard, but doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun either lol. Try checking my video and see if you have the same issue as me with the axel. https://youtu.be/lUSiOSd6TVo

ok thanks!

[MacFady]

Do you get the sound if you go over the bump in reverse the same as forward?