Got a 92 miata, in the last month or so, has a hard sounding clunk in the front end. Happens over small bumps either front wheel. Or when stopping from slower speeds, as brakes are applied, clunks, the when car stops and recoils back, it clunks again. I can get it to do it on demand. We have a slightly inclined driveway and letting off brake and reapplying brakes quickly damn clunks are there. Been getting worse to the point its really audible outside the car. standing outside the car, can't really tell if its left or right side. Heres what i've done so far. Replaced lower ball joints, disconnected sway bar, diassembled struts, no wear or looseness found. Kind of at a loss where to look now. I've checked the upper and lower a-arm bushings, motor mounts seem tight, moter doesn' move at all. Did a clutch last winter, went all over those bolts, the torque arm is tight. Almost seems to be the brakes, but They seem very tight and in good shape. Clunks happen brakes applied or not! HELP! Help! Any thoughts at all would really be appreciated. Almost sounds bad enough not to be safe to drive! Thanks

 

what about the little spring bracket thingies on your brake pads?

 

i will admit the pads are a bit loose within those spring retainers. they are cheap, i might as well try them too. But it seems to even do it when the brakes are applied, which should be holding them tight you would think, but I am going to try them tomorrow and let you know. Anything to get rid of it. thanks

 

If either or both slider pins for the caliper have stripped, the caliper will move enough to clunk against the bracket under the conditions you describe. Happened to my left front.

 

Did you check the tightness of the LCA and UCA bolts?

 

I saw that you said you disconnected the sway bar. Normally when I hear a clunk like that it's swaybar endlinks. Often they feel tight in the joint when actuated by hand but clunk under use.

 

+1 /\ See if you can get any play out of them by grabbing the bar right at the link and pushing/pulling on them.

 

Yes, I have totally removed sway bar and links. also control arm bolts and bushings tight. mobius talks about the caliper slider bolts. I've removed the calipers and replaced them, bolts seem tight, not stripped. BUT I can very easily move the caliper around even after pumping up the brakes. pads are loose in there also. going to get the sprung could for the pads tonight. but seems like the caliper should stay tighter than it is.

 

OK, Problem solved. Now I can let my heart rate slow down, the cars not falling apart. Thanks Vlad. Sometimes its nuts how you overlook the simple things. Put a new set of spring retainers on the brake pads. Also, tightened up the drivers side bolt that holds the crossmember under the tranny. Totally not sure which is the fix, but I don't really care at this point. Next time I'll at least have a place to look first. Thanks a million. Sometimes you can't see the forest from the trees!!

 

fwiw- loose upper shock mounts and worn shock eye bushings make clunks