Clunking low speed braking
 

I notice a clunk when braking and at low speed right before coming to a stop. It seems to happen when going nearly 0mph and the car shifts its weight forward a bit right before stopping.

There is a clunk or thud type noise that sounds like it might be coming from the rear of the car.

I had the car up on jack stands when doing a oil change and took off one of the wheels. I should have done both but was lazy or wrongly assumed both sides would wear about the same. I inspected the brakes and everything fine though the hardware clips weren't in place these things never seem to stay in or do their job. and even after putting them back in place the clunk returns. D in picture below.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1446239588

The bushings all looked fine sway bar fine wheel bearings fine coilover fine I gave it the shade tree mechanic check of the axle shaft and seemed fine.

I came up with no reason it should be clunking everything looked to be in good shape with no slop anywhere.

Only thing I can guess is its the fuel tank issue in this bulletin.

One major potential cause is alignment bolts loose/on their way out.

Correctamundo

If it is a loose bolt I guess you just tighten it up... but what would constitute the bolt being on the way out?

I have clunkings too, will give them an inspection.

I have the same style clunk coming from the front end. It started when I went to wilwoods. Didn't go away when I redid all the bushings/alignment bolts/hubs etc. I always assumed it was the pads shifting in the calipers.

Subbed for ideas.

Just tightening the old bolts doesn't often solve it, you need new bolts and they need to have the shit tightened out of them.

My car has spent 21 years through rough Michigan seasons and i just recently got the "clunk". I can't imagine something just now decided to loosen up, i have a hell of a time forcing things to loosen up. haha

I'll tear into it more once the car gets up on the lift for winter. If i find anything i'll report back.

Hmm sucks I just got an alignment. Can I replace the bolts and be very careful putting them back where they belong so I dont have to re-align?
Maybe I should just buy one of those tape measure and level DIY alignment kits and do it myself.

use a pry bar and give the bushings a little wiggle. they shouldn't move. if that checks out check the guide pins in the rear calipers.

I had a noise, same situation, under braking clunk. it was the upper A arm bushings went bad. it would slide back and forth. i went nuclear and got V8 roadsters Hem joint A arms. problem is gone.

HAHA seems like one of those "might as well" deals! I will have to try this out. All the bushings I looked at seemed ok but didn't really do much other than look and see if they are old looking.

I have zero movement in my bushings. Both sides upper and lower control arms, I was reefing on them too. They look a little deteriorated, but then again they're 21 years old.

If you just had the car aligned, they probably just didn't get the alignment bolts tight enough. I just recently had a clunk under braking right after getting an alignment and torquing the alignment bolts got rid of the noise. Just hold the head of the bolt so it can't turn and crank down on the nut.