Clunk from front end while backing up.

So while backing up yesterday I noticed a mild clunk from the front drivers side of my truck. Its only happened a few times and all fairly recently. Yesterday I was backing out of a driveway with my wheels turned to the right and I went over a small bump at the end of a driveway. I haven't noticed anything else out of the ordinary. The steering seems tight, when I go forward over a bump there aren't any clunks and the truck doesn't wander on the road. I haven't noticed anything when I hit the brakes except for a SMALL ?"bump"? when I come to a complete stop. My first thought is that the ball joints on the front drivers side are loose... I had the similar sensation while coming to a stop in an old car of mine when the ball joints needed replacing. I hope this isn't a big issue.....not too much money around for repairs right now!

 

Brake pads shifting inside the calipers.

 

Due to needing replacement?

 

No. The brake pads by design are slightly narrower than the channel in the caliper, so they move up and down when you apply brakes after changing direction.

 

This. Normal.

 

Check the lower a-arm bolts, I had the same problem a while back, I think the specs are 110 ftlbs

 

This ^

Mine have done this since I first got my truck, or near then.

 

if it's jsut a small clicking, then i agree it's the brake pads shifting. however, if it's anyting more than a click, if you can feel it in the steering wheel of seat, it may be your balljoints. i had a nice big clunk coming from my passengers side when i hit the brakes while turning in reverse. new upper control arm ball joints (for the light racing arms) and no more clunk. after taking out the old ball joints, it was clear that that was the issue.

good luck determining what's making the noise.

 

I never knew this, good to know!

I have a feeling its something to do with the ball joints or A-arms...it was way too loud to be normal, My fiancee, who is not a gear head, even heard the noise and wondered what it was.

 

Noone mentioned CV Joint? I've had the exact symptom (on a non-taco) that needed CV's.

 

The brake pads sliding back and forth is a loud click style sound.

If you are getting a louder or deeper sound that is a thud or can be felt it is likely driveline or suspension related.

 

I have a slight clunk on passenger side... you can only feel it while sitting in the passenger seat and on the highway. A mild clunk.... sporadically ... no bumps in the road, no braking, no turning.....just driving on the highway. It's not brake pads (I have that clunk too and know what it is).

I've gotta get under there and look around. My husband swears its ball joints but the roadways are smooth. I'll cringe at the thought of CV's.... with only 50K miles on the truck and NO offroad abuse...??

 

i have just started to get the same click, ive only owned the 07 with 90 000 KMS on it for 3 weeks, week 2 i installed billies and rear aal. didnt notice the loud click until the 3rd week. dont see anything loose, it only happens when almost completely stopped, foot on brake, and switching from fwd to rev or the opposite. but its not driveline, im sure of that, brake pads make sense, i never feel it in the steering wheel either..

 

I recently installed new coil-overs, upper control arms, outer tie rod ends, and lower ball joints all at once. After a couple days my front end began popping and clanking when turning the wheel while either stopped or moving at slow speeds. After a lot off digging around I found all four lower control arm bolts (two each side, straddling the lower ball joint) loose. I tightened w/ blue Loctite and no more noises!

By the way, my brake pads click/clank when first applying the brakes after changing direction forward/reverse. Didn't begin doing it until after 45,000 miles and six years of driving.

 

I had just recently installed 5100's and noticed the sound after the alignment was done. I had a friend stand outside the drivers side of the truck while I drove over a 2x4 with the wheels full lock to the passenger side. He could physically see the movement. We torqued them to spec and havent had a problem since.

 

Mine had the clunk as well, took it to dealer and they showed me how the brake pads shift making the clunk sound. Only on driver side, too.

 

my truck did that when the strut bushing tore and the strut was loose at the top. it was the strut sliding forward and backward. 2007 2wd Tacoma reg cab