Clunk noise, underneath car while braking Options

[Coligion]

I've been having this problem for as long as I've owned the car. When I put the car in reverse, back up, and then go to first gear and the next instance I brake I hear a loud, clunk noise from underneath (pretty sure it's the rear). After the initial clunk has been made, the noise is gone no matter when I brake--as long as I stay in gears 1 through 5. If I go back into reverse and repeat what I said above, I can repeat the noise everytime; however, it appears to be louder on cold-start. I have no idea how to diagnose the problem. My only thought was possibly sway-bar bushings? The front bar/bushings have been replaced with a Suspension Technique bar, but the rear remains stock. I jacked up the car this evening to have a look at the rear bushing and they don't appear to have any damage on them. Any help is appreciated.

This post has been edited by Coligion: Sep 9, 2008 - 9:38 PM

[Havok1997GT]

are you talking about reversing, and going into 1st while still rolling backwards then hitting the breaks after youve already gone into 1st?

[Coligion]

are you talking about reversing, and going into 1st while still rolling backwards then hitting the breaks after youve already gone into 1st?

I'm sorry if I was unclear. This is what happens: I'll put the car in reverse and, say, back out of a parking lot. I stop and put the car in first gear to move forward. I come to a stop sign and have to brake--clunk noise. For whatever reason, going in reverse activates this clunk noise. Once it makes that noise, it will not do it again, unless I put the car in reverse and proceed to first gear and brake. I've also noticed that if I'm on a steep hill and let the car slide backwards (while in first gear with the clutch pushed in) the noise will again present itself when I brake immediately after. I just don't understand what going in reverse has to do with the occurence in this noise. It can be quite loud and embarrassing.

[azian_advanced]

it's difficult to tell if the sway bar bushing is no good by just looking at it.. it can appear normal and still be bad. i had a similar problem before. when i back up from my long bumpy driveway, i heard the rear clunking. after i replaced my bushings, the clunking was gone.
it's easier to notice these 'clunks' going in reverse because of the way the sway bar is angled and mounted to the frame rails... and harder to notice when you're moving forward. so i'd say it would be your sway bar bushings... but again i could be wrong here.

[paulgtt]

Have you had the brake pads changed recently? Mine made clunking noises like you described and I replaced the anti rattle shims that sit in the calipers and that solved the problem.

[Coligion]

I finally got around to changing out the rear bushings. Unfortunately, the originals were in perfect condition, so getting the new ones did not solve the problem. As for the brakes, they still have a lot of pad left on them. What I don't understand is how controlled the noise is. It's only after going in reverse that I can recreate the noise.

[blackbullet]

I have the same problem... try driving at a slow speed and steping on your break a couple of times..does it clunk everytime you break? Mine happens only when you break at a slower speed... can't really find what the problem is either.

[Coligion]

My issue seems to only come about after going in reverse. As soon as I move forward into first, no matter how fast/slow, and then break I get the clunk noise. The noise is no longer present until I initiate it by going into reverse again. Like you, I'm clueless on how to diagnose this problem. .

[samir0189]

Duddee! I have the same problem! only when i hit the brakes when reversing! It sounds like its coming from the rear of the car. I might try to have someone replicate the noise so i can be outside the car to track it down.

[azian_advanced]

maybe your spare tire isn't locked tight? iono just a suggestion...

[kamax]

not to highjack this tread but what's wrong if you hear a clunk everytime you're braking?

[aww_shoook_em]

I have this problem to.. but mine is while turning left or also reversing..
it annoys and makes me worried that it might be by axel or clutch..

sometimes when I put the clutch down, It makes the clucking noise too..
what ever it is, I hope someone knows what it is so it can be fixed ASAP

[mr-belowaverage]

Check your engine mounts.

[Nial]

Its the brake pads shifting within the callipers...mine does it aswell, I dont know about the other models of celica, but the calipers on the faff have a spring clip on them which force the pads against the caliper so that when you brake it dosnt move....trouble is when you go backwards the rotation of the disc is fighting against this spring so that it clunks. If your calliper dosnt have this spring clip (Some may not have one at all) then every time you change direction forwards/backwards when the brakes grip the disc they are going to move in the same direction as the disc until they hit something that stops them.....obviously this is the other side of the calliper. (the movement may only be a fraction of an inch) If your always going forwards then obviously the the pads are already located within the caliper where they need to be without clunking.
Dont know if there is a cure for this or not....possibly a spring clip you can buy.

Hope all that makes sense.

[azian_advanced]

i get a light clunk coming from the front right when i accelerate from stop. it sounds like the wheel studs hitting the brake rotor stud holes, which is my guess. definite
any other ideas?

[purplegt4]

maybe there is a clip missing from your caliper?

i would put my $ on the pad shifting within the caliper.

[obi1kinob]

I have the same problem... try driving at a slow speed and steping on your break a couple of times..does it clunk everytime you break? Mine happens only when you break at a slower speed... can't really find what the problem is either.

this is my exact situation as well.

[samir0189]

I have the same problem... try driving at a slow speed and steping on your break a couple of times..does it clunk everytime you break? Mine happens only when you break at a slower speed... can't really find what the problem is either.

this is my exact situation as well.

do you guys have the anti shim things for the brake pads? I think that's what they are called. They were on the old pads for me, a silver thin metal piece. Alot of the time it gets thrown out when you change the pads cause people don't realize its there.

[GriffGirl]

It's an anti squeal shim, not an anti shim

[samir0189]

It's an anti squeal shim, not an anti shim

rightttt. something like that. you knew what i was talking about, so i did good.

[uberschall]

when it rains...

i just noticed last night that i'm getting a "clunk" noise from the front end (seems like passenger side?) when i coast, brake, and come to a stop. it's rotational...doesn't seem to be there (or at least as noticeable) when the car is in neutral.

i can feel it through the floor and brake pedal. a passenger confirmed that it's coming from the front.

everything looks ok from the outside, and there doesn't seem to be any play when i yank on the tire.

i just got the stupid thing running again last week after a crippling two-week ignition problem and $400.

...it pours.