Noise When Braking

[fruitsalad]

When I brake I hear a sound I can only describe as dull clunking, any ideas guys.

[bhg481]

Car? Age? Mileage? Single clunk or series of clunks? Front or back? One wheel or all wheels?

[Zacs-Master]

Could be lots of things.

1. Can you tell whether it's coming from front or rear (try opening your window when driving)?
2. Is it worse when cornering (if so it could be suspension related)?
3. Is it a single or repetitive knocking?

[fruitsalad]

Astra 102,000 miles seems to be coming from nearside rear and only when I am braking a series of dull clunk's until I take foot of brake.

[bhg481]

Discs or drums on the rear?

[Zacs-Master]

Drum brakes or disc brakes on rear?

[fruitsalad]

Drums

[Zacs-Master]

Proabably the shoes have worn or the cylinder / spring has come loose. A local scrapyard would be my first port of call.

[bhg481]

Has the drum become deformed? Jack up that wheel and spin it - it should rotate evenly. Being a rear brake you can put the handbrake on a bit and then a bit more until you can feel whether or not the braking is even. You might even hear the clunking.

[EDDIE51]

Possibly wheel bearings, I have had it happen, you only hear the sound when there is extra strain under braking.

[Zacs-Master]

A wheel bearing going is usually heard when cornering.

[EDDIE51]

^ Yes but this noise is from the rear, wheel bearing noise from the front when cornering is common but I have had it from the rear when braking.

[tonyav]

Could also be one of the brake shoes bumping of one of the back plates or possibly one of the back plates as worked loose.

[brainiac]

I had a similar-sounding dull clunk recently coming from near the front offside wheel, particularly noticeable at low speed. Turned out to be a broken spring, so had to have two new ones fitted (£200+)

[TWR]

With Safety in mind!! Can you jack up the back of the car with Chocks at the front wheels, with the rear wheels raised get someone to sit in the car, put the car in 1st gear then release the clutch stand along side the rear wheels and ask the person to tap the brake, have you checked the rear Suspension Springs? one may have snapped.

[bhg481]

Front wheel drive TWR, letting out the clutch isn't going to do much in terms of making the rear wheels rotate.

[TWR]

Never noticed that Bhj, cheers.

[fruitsalad]

Thanks guys think I will take into local garage ask if they will take it for a spin...wouldn't mind but it's not long passed it's MOT

[bhg481]

Please let us know the outcome - we can all learn for next time.

[TWR]

Fruit, to my reply, Leave in 1sy Gear, if it's possible jack the rear of the car up & spin each Rear wheel, this might indicate which one it is, My last car was a Peugeot 308, a clunk as you say was, in my case the front N/S Suspension Spring

[fruitsalad]

Just an update guys it was only a stone caught in the plates, can't say what a relief it is, spent enough money on this car, but she's reliable.