Rotor shifting when the brakes are applied.

This is kind of a weird one. Bear with me.

I’ve noticed a clunking noise when I brake after changing directions. For example, after backing out of a parking space, the first time I apply the brakes while moving forward there will be a clunk noise and I feel something shift.

Conversely, if I go from drive to reverse and apply the brakes there is also a clunk.

I pulled the front right wheel off and found there is enough give in the rotor to shift around the studs.

It certainly wasn’t always like this. Any ideas on what could cause this issue? Is it something I should replace right away?

Can’t upload the video directly, so here is a onedrive link.
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ai8zvSIVGTzzhZdc38u-S1JcI60kRg

 

Are your lug nuts torqued correctly?

 

As long as your lug nuts are tight your rotor can’t move. Every knock off rotor I’ve seen has some play in it and the wheel and lug nuts hold it tight

 

I have a 6-lug like yourself and when I pull the tire off there is some play with the rotor when lug nuts are removed.
The acorn style lug nuts should prevent movement.

 

Ah, okay. I'll try torquing them down and checking again. Anyone have the torque specs off hand? Are lugs universal? Do we have a particular size? I need to order some spares anyway.

 

Lugs are not vehicle specific but rim specific tho

 

80 ft lbs is what i use.

 

It’s likely the brake pads, not the rotor.

 

I had this issue a couple of weeks ago. It was actually the caliper shifting slightly when I applied the brake in reverse. I would try wiggling your caliper to see if it moves. In my case the caliper bolts just needed to be re-torqued.

 

The pads float a bit in the caliper. I could hear the ones on my 2nd gen under the same conditions you describe. Not loud, but definitely audible.

 

My brake pads make this sound after upgrading to tundra brakes. It's the pads physically moving within their seats in the caliper. I added an extra set of the little retainer springs to mine (facing the opposite direction) and it eliminated the sound for a year or two. Now it has come back.

Basically the little wire retainers hold the pads off the rotor when not in use. This also keeps them still and "pinned" to one side of the seat.

 

I had something similar when I replaced both my rotors. I got two new Brembo rotors. Both the same. Went for a test ride after and one side was clanking as I applied the brakes to stop. Got back and took the tire off. Couldn’t see anything physically wrong. Torqued the lug nuts properly. Checked multiple times. The issue was still there. I ended up contacting brembo and they sent me a replacement rotor and it was fine. Very strange.

 

My Celica gts does the same thing. It's just the pads shifting back and forth. Totally normal, if anything its good because it means everything is properly lubricated so it moves freely

 

You can put a dab of grease on the outside edges of the pads where it contacts the caliper. Noise should go away. But it’s only temporary

Pad shift is normal.

 

Did you ever find the problem cause my rotor is moving also .

 

I doubt the rotor is moving, the only way it could move would be if the lugnuts were getting loose.. and then you'd have bigger problems, like a wheel coming off

You're hearing the pads shifting in the calipers

 

Negative batman with the tire I can move my rotor about an 1/16 of an inch. It's like the stud holes are bigger than my studs but bought a new rotor and it still does it . The studs have play inside the rotor. Thinking about changing out the studs

 

uh.. if the rotor is moving with the wheel mounted. the wheel isnt sitting on the face of the rotor then. the wheel is suppose to pin the rotor to the hub.. are you running aftermarket wheels?

 

try to see if the wheel sits flat against the rotor like this. you should se NO gap

 

Torque spec is something around 85 ft lbs, I don't remember exactly sorry without a google.

If you're getting a clunking on accel/decel though and your wheels are torqued properly you likely have an issue somewhere else. Who knows. Could be steering rack bushings, could be a rubber bit somewhere like a transmission mount. Tough to see from the ground, may be best to get looked at on a lift with a flashlight and a prybar