turboedpickup

Something isn't sitting right - but I can't figure out what it is. 1994 civic dx. I can replicate the "thunk" by having the car at rest (car is on - in neutral), slowly rolling it back - when i press the brakes to stop the car, and then let go - i hear "clunk!"... let the car roll back again... brake and let go of pedal - "clunk!" I can do it all day.

When I'm at speeds >15mph (aka - when i'm not slowly rolling), there isn't any clunking.

When I slow down to a complete stop, I sometimes here the clunk (singular) when I release the brake pedal.

Another thing to mention... If I'm outside of the car...and I hit the tire with my fist...i can here something (metal + metal) tapping - so something isn't snug and sitting together.

BTW - this is only on the passenger front side. All the other tires...I can "hit" them, and I'd only hear the sound of my fist bouncing off the tire.

What could it be?

95sloweg

I am not trying to be an *** to you, but have you taken that wheel off and inspected that area?

hondabadtoy

Yea take the wheel off, youll probably find that the dust guard is loose or sumthing simple like that.

As for the "clunk" while ive never encountered this problem id say its either your strut is bad or you have a broken piston or seal in that brake caliper.

Put the front end up on jack stands, take the tire off and put it in reverse but keep it slow. (this is to simulate rolling backwards) have someone watch the pads/caliper as you engage and release the brake. This should reveale your problem.

turboedpickup

I sort of fixed it just right now... emphasizing "sort of."

The sound is a little bit quieter. What seemed to be the problem was that the rotor wasn't able to sit as flush as it could be with the hub. So the clunk was from "play" in the rotor. But I need to troubleshoot some more - driving it around some more - and see if the noise gets worse...or persists.

Because now when I "punch" the tire... I don't here the clunk anymore. But - it still clunks a little...so I need to figure out what's not letting the rotor sit flush (I took out the screws that hold the rotor to the hub - thinking that they might have gotten in the way... because, also, I hear they're only to keep the rotor from falling off during assembly)...

hondabadtoy

Chances are (depending on how long you've been driving around with this problem) your going to need a new rotor. It may not seem warped to the naked eye but even a little disfiguration can effect the car. Yes the screws keep it on during assembly but they also help keep the rotor in place if say a lug nut works its way loose and the tire wobles. Saves from have to replace the rotor and the wheel. I would get a new rotor and screws or use the old ones if possible.

turboedpickup

If the car doesn't shake when braking - or stutter - or anything except the single "clunk" when I come to a complete stop - would it still be warped?

I guess the question would be - how can u tell that your rotor is warped?

The pads are still being worn out evenly...

turboedpickup

well... turns out i didn't fix anything - the noise is still the same. something's sticking? bah - i still need to do the "both sides on jack stands" to see what's going on.

SinsEvil666

i Have the Same Exact problem on my EG and havent figured out what the problem is either

alphalanos

This happens to my EJ6 sedan. I noticed that the caliper is able to be moved a little side to side by hand. I think its dealing with the brake pads maybe being thinner than the OEM ones. Could need to be shimmed more. Im guessing when the brakes are engaged, the caliper slides over with the force of the piston, then snaps back and thats the clunk youre hearing.

wondersparrow

checked the ball joints?

kimosabe

The brake pedal ?

crazi_E

maybe caliper? happened to me while i was driving to school..
i lost a bolt and the pressure from the brake lines made the caliper move

hondabadtoy

Inspect the brake and hub assembly thoroughly, sumthing is loose. Look for empty bolt holes, slopiness or play in the rotor/caliper/suspension. If u find nothing try raising the front end like my other post.

If you still find nuthing take the caliper off and compress the piston as if u were changing pads to check the pressure.

Last resort would be the strut. I dont kno any good way to test these but if your car is lowered u could switch it with the other side easily to see if the "clunk" moves to the other side. Although this is not an easy test with the stock coil springs...

Does the "clunk" ever happen anytime other then releasing the brake pedal?

turboedpickup

I can feel that the caliper has some play (with my bare hands) with the car on the ground. Is it supposed to be able to have some play?

It only makes noises when i'm pressing/lettinggo of the pedal at <5mph.

ek4_b16a

you probably just lost a caliper mounting bolt...take your tire off, try moving the caliper away from the rotor...my hatch had that happening...thought it was just my suspension making all that noise until i checked the caliper to see if it was still mounted on, it sure was missing a bolt, so everytime i punch the car or go to brake the caliper would move off of my bracket and hit the inner side of my rim...check that to see if it is just that that's causing the thunking noise...

Horseofcourse

check your bearing too.... while ur tearing everything else apart

hondabadtoy

The caliper should have a little play (like an eighth of an inch) back and forth. But there should be no play at all up and down (on and off the rotor). Take your rotor and pads off and inpect all the mounting hole/bushing/bolts ect.

If everything is ok i would look into the strut. Since you said it clunks when pressing and releasing the pedal. I am guessing when the front end dips down when stopping it clunks, then when you stop and the front end raises back up it clunks again. Or sumtimes just one of the two. If this sounds like whats happening its most likely the strut or sumthing suspension related.

turboedpickup

^^^ Won't say it's the strut - because I can hammer on the brakes and make the car dip and there would be no clunking. It's when my car is barely rolling at all. That's what's bothering me. Just to make sure... There are two bolts that hold the caliper in place right? And one bolt to loosen, and one bolt to remove to open the caliper and expose the pads right?

hondabadtoy

Ok here it is.....

I talked to a Honda tech and he said that there is srping like pin that fits in the bottom of the brake pad before installing it into the caliper. This pin keeps the brake up in the "forward" possition. (since the percentage of forward braking as opposed to backwards braking is about 90% to 10%). Without this pin your brake pad slides back and forth between the forward and back possition giving you the "clunk". So look for this pin.

If this pin is intact and not broken or lost, check your mounting bolts and make sure that they are even and the same width al the way down the bolt. Sometimes from use these bolts can be warn down to where the bolt right past the head is 1/4 inch (hypothetical) and the middle is 1/8 inch. So take these bolts out and check their wear.

If this doesnt fix ur problem then i wont post on here again cuz at this point it would just be guessing haha . But i really hope this is it cuz my tech is convinced that these are the two most likely causes.

turboedpickup

crud...there's a pin? Does anyone have a picture of this spring pin? I don't think I recall having one of those... or better yet - reinstalling one of those...

egwhte

hope it get fixed

turboedpickup

still clunking... BUT it is mostly when I'm reversing...and tapping the brakes. clunk clunk - clank clank ... etc. I found out it doesn't nearly happen as often when I'm going forward. MAINLY when i'm backing up.

ReactioN

i had that exact problem......it was the axel check em

SinsEvil666

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turboedpickup &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">still clunking... BUT it is mostly when I'm reversing...and tapping the brakes. clunk clunk - clank clank ... etc. I found out it doesn't nearly happen as often when I'm going forward. MAINLY when i'm backing up. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i checked my calipers....looks like they have some play to it...and my best guess would be that...same like u, mine does it when reversing as well. Well my caliper has to play to it and i think its cuz of that. i havent really gotten into it to try fix it because im most likely going after a new shell.