Left front brake clunking?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
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From: Eaton, CO
Left front brake clunking?
Something in the left brake assembly is clunking. It clunks loudly until I hit the brakes. Tomorrow morning I'm heading out to my folk's place in the truck and I'm installing new shocks all around. I figure I should look into the front brakes to see what's going on. Any ideas?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,496
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From: So. Jersey
You sure it's in the brakes and not the radius control arm bushing. If you apply the brake it makes the radius arm go up and will feel like it's hitting the floor boards. Driving normal over bumps it will feel and sound like a clunking sound. Very common on these trucks. The last set I did on my truck from Napa aren't even rubber any more, they're now a hard plastic/nylon.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,330
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From: Eaton, CO
I can kick the driver's side tire and it will make a clunking noise. Not so on the passenger side. It sounds like it's coming from the caliper area. Where's the radius control arm bushing? Nothing feels like it's hitting the floor boards.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,496
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From: So. Jersey
Just noticed you have a 4x4. You have front leaf springs?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
It is the wedge that holds your caliper tight. You need to tend to it pretty quick or it will wear on the caliper and the spider causing you to have to weld it up and grind it down to fit tight again. If it is the radius arm bushings you will notice really bad when you start off in reverse. I quit buying the rubber ones over 20 years ago oil and tranny fluid was murder on them, the polyurathane bushings are the only way to go, but your 4x doesn't have them 2x or halfton 2x or 4x only.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Eaton, CO
Yes, I have 4WD and leaf springs up front. I'll get new wedges or pins or both if need be tomorrow. Does the '86 have slide pins or those wedges?
I looked at my calipers and they look low, like they're spun down towards the ground more than I'm used to seeing. It almost seemed like it was hitting the wheel!
Please elaborate. I notice in 1st gear and Reverse, it seems like the rear end or underneath is hopping around/shuddering.
What's the spider you're talking about? I've heard this clunking since I bought it. I thought it was blown shocks though.
I looked at my calipers and they look low, like they're spun down towards the ground more than I'm used to seeing. It almost seemed like it was hitting the wheel!
It is the wedge that holds your caliper tight. You need to tend to it pretty quick or it will wear on the caliper and the spider causing you to have to weld it up and grind it down to fit tight again. If it is the radius arm bushings you will notice really bad when you start off in reverse. I quit buying the rubber ones over 20 years ago oil and tranny fluid was murder on them, the polyurathane bushings are the only way to go, but your 4x doesn't have them 2x or halfton 2x or 4x only.
What's the spider you're talking about? I've heard this clunking since I bought it. I thought it was blown shocks though.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: back in SE Iowa
the wdges are what you need i just call them slide pins.and the caliper does sit really close to the wheel i noticed.seems to be a really tight tolerance there.but putting those slides in should make your noise go away.also when you hit bumps is it a really loud clunck?you might check your u-joints if its hopping around.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
By spider I talking about the piece of metal your caliper rides on. If run to long with metal beating on metal it wears it and the caliper. And that changes a cheap fix to a different can of worms.
The clunking I was talking about from forward to reverse is the radius bushings doesn't pertain to your truck. The shuddering your talking about is likely a tranny mount, a warped pressure plate or uneven flywheel can cause it too though.
The clunking I was talking about from forward to reverse is the radius bushings doesn't pertain to your truck. The shuddering your talking about is likely a tranny mount, a warped pressure plate or uneven flywheel can cause it too though.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
Ok, perfect................
My '89 F150 2wd has a clanking front left brake. Just til you touch the brakes. I pulled the wheel today to inspect and found something interesting. Everything is in perfect shape.......BUT........seems the pads are VERY loose in the caliper and the bracket(back side pad). You can rattle the pads bad!!! Every truck/car I've ever seen has brackets on the pads to hold them securely to the caliper and piston. These totally float with not one thing to hold them. It rattles bad just after brake application then a few moments later it seems to fade away and be quiet. Very annoying.
My '89 F150 2wd has a clanking front left brake. Just til you touch the brakes. I pulled the wheel today to inspect and found something interesting. Everything is in perfect shape.......BUT........seems the pads are VERY loose in the caliper and the bracket(back side pad). You can rattle the pads bad!!! Every truck/car I've ever seen has brackets on the pads to hold them securely to the caliper and piston. These totally float with not one thing to hold them. It rattles bad just after brake application then a few moments later it seems to fade away and be quiet. Very annoying.