Clunking Noise When Breaking

Jager · #1 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 11:20 AM

I'm getting a clunk noise from under the floor board on the driver's side about where you're feet rest. I checked for ball joint movement but everything looks good. Wondering if its my shock? Anything else to check?

mechelement · #2 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 11:31 AM

Is it one clunk/thud when you hit the brakes? My driver's side lower ball joint did that under braking, especially when it got colder out here.

I've read claims of sway bar bushings doing that too. My sway bar bushings were shot and never made any noise.

Jager · #3 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 11:40 AM

Yes, One clunk. I jacked the drivers side up and tried checking for movement. Nothing found. How do you check the sway bar bushings?

mechelement · #4 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 11:50 AM

FWIW I didn't see any movement when I checked the ball joints myself with the prying method. I had a friend of ours look and he told me to really wail on the bottom and top of the tire while putting my shoulder into it. Only then he saw movement, we switched spots and I saw it too. It wasn't much movement.

I visually inspected the sway bar d-bushings and they looked old and worn out. They had gaps between them and the sway bar itself. So I bought energy suspension kits for the front and rear sway bars.

Damonkr · #5 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 11:59 AM

I have the same noise in my 99 f250. It feels like something is hitting the floor board under my feet. I have noticed if I brake easier it makes a much quieter or no clunk. Also I can make it make a clunk in the drive way by letting it roll a few weet and hitting the brakes hard.

I have checked my sway bar bushings it's not them. I also greased the splines in the drive line and installed a grease zerk. I serviced the entire braking system and checked the trans mounts and suspension mounting bolts all seem tight. I was thinking ball joints just havent had time to do them yet.

I have never had much luck with jacking the truck up and shaking the tire to check for ball joint wear. They never make any noise or move even when they are obviolusly bad.

To check sway bar bushings just remove the sway bar end links on both sides and drive the truck a short distance to see if the noise is still present.

mechelement · #6 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damonkr

I have the same noise in my 99 f250. It feels like something is hitting the floor board under my feet. I have noticed if I brake easier it makes a much quieter or no clunk. Also I can make it make a clunk in the drive way by letting it roll a few weet and hitting the brakes hard.

That is verbatim what I went through until I diagnosed the lower driver's side ball joint.

Damonkr · #7 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 12:10 PM

Thanks for the help.

I plan on doing ball joints if I get a slow day at work next week. I just did the ones on a friends truck a month ago so i'll be all practiced up.

I'll be sure to report back when they are done reguarding the clunk.

tdpower · #8 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 12:23 PM

I get the same thing at times. I wonder if rotors could cause this in combo with marginal ball joints?

Rushmore X · #9 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 01:15 PM

Had the same issue, went away when I had mine replaced...

stormyrider · #10 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 04:15 PM

I just went through this on mine, Driverside inner brake pad was gone, backing plate was lodged between caliper housing and rotor, not touching and caliper pistons where Engaging the rotor. Hard to see without pulling tire.

Damonkr · #11 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 08:52 PM

Report back:

I replaced all the ball joints today and found 3 horrible ones and on bad one.

Now it is nice and tight with no clunk.

Also when replacing my ball joints I was able to reuse all the seals by carefully removing the axle shaft from the knuckle. A pry bar used gently between the axle housing and the Axle U joint works great.

Hope this helps diagnose someone elses clunk issues.