Thread: Clunking beats the Mechanics

Here's the issue:

My fiances 98 GP GT has clunk in the front right wheel area. When we let off the brakes, the clunk happens. It will also rattle when we hit bumps on the road. I couldn't see anything in the wheel end that looked broken so I took it to the mechanic. He couldn't find anything wrong! He said all the suspension components and linkages were tight but seems to think it is in the brakes. A friend mentioned that it could be the U-clamps or grommets that hold stablizer to the frame. But no confirmation on that yet.

Mechanics Theory: The caliper piston is bad and that's what causes the clunk.
Solution: Replace front brakes, and calipers.

My Theory: I haven't taken the brakes off yet, but seems that maybe the pad is loose and rattling around. Hence it's fine when we brake but clunks when we let off the pedal.
Solution: Replace pad.

Obviously I don't want to spend a small fortune doing front brakes and calipers if it's just the pad. Again, these are just theories as I haven't taken the wheel end apart yet. I'm going home after work to pull off the caliper and take a look around to see if there's any signs.

If anybody has any recommendations or thoughts on something I shoul checkout I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Luke

Hmmm, my car clunked about when the motor/transmission mounts were toast.

Checked those?

^ start there
unless the pad popped out of the metal brakets it shouldnt be loose under a good piston.. i would think but im not the smartest kid ever

Awesome, didn't expect to see any replies so soon!

I'll make sure to check the motor/tranny mounts too. Thanks

Yea, I figured if there is something wrong with the caliper that it would be pretty visible, but not sure. Anybody know if there are any common physical signs that indicate a bad piston? I had also thought maybe air in the line could cause the piston to clunk.

bad piston signs could be breaks not disengaging, breaks not applying at all or it leaking, i would assume

Yep, so as it turns out it was the front strut tower mounts. I took it out for a drive and the rattle started happening at about 55 mph . So I pulled over, popped the hood and pushed down on the front end to see the strut mount bolt sliding up and down through the mount. I headed to Autozone picked up two mounts, spring compressor jaws, and a 13/16 crescent. Autozone will lone you the Spring Compressor so I only ended up spending like $85!I couldn't believe how terrible the bushings were when I pulled them out. I'm surprised my struts didn't just plow through the hood, being Michigan roads and all. I'll put up some pics in a little bit.

As I promised...

Here's the passenger front mount, but both looked just like this.


Out with the old and in with the New!

well good you fixed that mess!

So, during some talk with some of my SAE buddies about this, this came up... If I just replaced the top strut mount and never even touched the linkage to the wheel end, is it necessary to get an alignment done? Anybody have any thoughts?

This was the first time they had been replaced in 196,000 miles....didn't have any issues with un-even tire wear, so the alignment was fine....before. Just not sure now, I'll prolly just swing into my mechanic and see if I need one...kinda doubt it though.

probably won't need one.