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Thread: Clunk when pressing and releasing brakes

  1. #1
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    Question Clunk when pressing and releasing brakes

    Hi guys, for the past couple weeks there's been a clunk/click when I press the brakes or when I let off them

    Videos: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Nk...15bCicJ0KVt-Sk

    I'm not able to get in my garage right now to get under the car and check for myself. Any ideas? The front pads were replaced fairly recently and still have a lot of pad left. I've noticed it takes longer to brake now and there is sometimes a squealing noise as if my pads were worn. The clunking noise does not happen every time but 90% of the time it does.

  2. #2
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    I am by no means an expert and I'm sure others can give better advice, but... it doesn't sound like a "brake pad" issue. It sounds more like a suction-type clunking - it's "softer" than a normal clunk. Again, without being all that knowledgeable here, have someone pump the pedal and see if the sound comes from the master cylinder area under the hood. Are you sure it's coming from outside the car and not from where the brake pedal goes through the firewall?

    What is the brake fluid level? Does the pedal feel any different under foot... softer?

    The squeal may or may not be related. Could be that the calipers were improperly greased.
    Last edited by DennisG01; 01-12-2019 at 04:59 PM.

  3. #3
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    cant get either vid to play, but it seems like a pad sticking in the caliper getting released when the rotor begins to turn

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    Since we are playing "What's this noise.", my guess would be caliper bracket bolts not torqued properly.
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  5. #5
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    I second. Check the calipers.
    Bad calipers or caliper bolts -not torqued, or most liquely not well greased.

  6. #6
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    The answer is.....Crickets so far have the floor.
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  7. #7
    JimLev's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by StephenVA View Post
    The answer is.....Crickets so far have the floor.
    Chirp Chirp...Fedisrico where are you?

    So does it make the noise when you are not driving the car and you just step on the brake pedal.
    I listened to your video, seems like the noise is coming from inside the car.

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    Last edited by BimmrMeUpSnotty; 01-14-2019 at 12:58 PM.
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  9. #9
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    Time to burn this one... .
    Meanwhile all my stuff is in the garage or under covers due to snow, salt and ice. Mini van time! Oh the life!
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  10. #10
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    Mine does a similar noise, but it kind of cringes or crackles when you press and release. Time to dismount them calipers and check rubber guide bushings and such, and renew the guides/pad ears lube, it seems.
    Diehard E39 driver.
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    Quote Originally Posted by StephenVA View Post
    Time to burn this one... .
    Meanwhile all my stuff is in the garage or under covers due to snow, salt and ice. Mini van time! Oh the life!
    Frikkin bizarre winter this year.

    We have had, for all practical purposes ZERO snow this year. One or two dustings, but I literally have not picked up the snow shovel once, aside to carry it from the shed to the garage back in December. Meanwhile my sis in Richmond is sending all kinda snowman/sledding pictures and crap.

    #threadjackweathertalk
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    The news this morning said Los Angeles got some snow.end of the world, as we know it....
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmrMeUpSnotty View Post
    The news this morning said Los Angeles got some snow.end of the world, as we know it....
    "and Snotty feels fine" ?
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  14. #14
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    A ha ha....
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    Winter brings nothing but bad news so far. Seized caliper and leak radiator. Bimmers are down hard. Driving around now in a POS Chebby.

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    Hell duct tape will fix those issues....
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  17. #17
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    If proper maintenance was properly followed, you wouldn’t have had to take three steps down in society like you had to. Enjoy driving those..... ... . things...
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  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmrMeUpSnotty View Post
    If proper maintenance was properly followed, you wouldn’t have had to take three steps down in society like you had to. Enjoy driving those..... ... . things...
    OOOOOh, a late night slam.
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  19. #19
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    I was able to get my car in the garage, took the wheels off and the sound didn't seem to come from any caliper, bled the brakes and still no change. The sound also isn't coming from the master cylinder. It seems to come from the middle of the engine somewhere below, no idea what it is.

    I'm going to try dennis's suggestion and check where the pedal meets the firewall, the sound doesn't come from either wheel

  20. #20
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    This is a stretch, but did you verify that the springs that are on the back of the inboard pads, that press into the caliper piston, are properly holding the pads in place? This typically manifests as a clunk when going over small bumps/road imperfections when the brakes are not applied. I guess if these were really loose you could get some noise when pressing/releasing the brake pedal.

    Once the inboard pads are inserted into the piston there should be no movement at all.

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