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Old 09-03-2010, 01:04 PM   #1
lewiguez
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Do brakes ever make a clunking sound?

So, I have a '96 Grand Am. Today, my brakes started making a clunking sound whenever they are pushed. The front brakes, that is.

I had a friend look at it and he said that it was the sway bar links. They were broken.

Now, would that make a clunking noise whenever the brakes are pushed? I would think that it wouldn't, but I have no idea, I guess. Thoughts? Could it be possible something is wrong with my brakes and my sway bar links? (because the links are definitely broken)...
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Old 09-03-2010, 01:32 PM   #2
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Re: Do brakes ever make a clunking sound?

does it ''clunk'' all the time when braking or just once
broken sway bar link will make noise but dont no if i'd discribe it as a clunk
a warped rotor will make a constant knocking/clunking noise as the rotor rotates & brakes are applied
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Old 09-03-2010, 01:48 PM   #3
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Re: Do brakes ever make a clunking sound?

Yeah. It's more of a constant sound. Apply pressure to the brakes and it starts. When you let off, it stops. Would speed affect how it sounds too if it's warped rotors? Like at highway speed it doesn't make the noise, but at city speeds it does? (This is just hypothetical... I haven't driven it on the highway yet with the noise. Just wondering about what to look out for)

Also, do warped rotors happen suddenly like my sound started this morning or should this have been more of a gradual thing?
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Old 09-04-2010, 08:48 AM   #4
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Re: Do brakes ever make a clunking sound?

a rotor can warp "instantly"
one way to warp it is to do an emergency stop, sometime they get so hot that they warp.
Another way is when they are hot and you hit a pool of water, cooling them too quickly and unevently.

I would inspect the brakes and "what move that ain't supposed to move" around the wheel: jack the car and try to move the tire up and down, left and right, remove the tire, inspect the brakes, try to move the caliper, inspect the direction and suspension (try to move the stuff, to find some play that shouln't be there)
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Old 09-04-2010, 11:21 PM   #5
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Re: Do brakes ever make a clunking sound?

Yeah. It's more of a constant sound. Apply pressure to the brakes and it starts. When you let off, it stops.
what you say/discribe here is a warped rotor
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