Front end clunk

hello, my 2004 tacoma has suddenly developed a front end clunk when I stop. Any idea what it is and is it serious?

 

Not a lot of information with which to form a diagnosis; only when you stop? From any speed? Same at a slow, controlled stop and a fast stop? Right when you stop? Slightly before? Metallic/non-metallic? How many miles on the buggy?

 

I noticed it when I pulled it out of the garage and when I stopped, it clunked in the front. It has 193,000 miles on it. It’s not a metallic sound, (like brake pads, not that). I haven’t been driving it much, maybe on the weekend and not far. Should I try it at different speeds? I was afraid to take it out because of the sound. Thanks

 

If it is ball joints clunking, it could be pretty bad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62bVn7E8gyk

-Mike

 

If it's only when you stop and in a straight line (ie, doesn't occur when you're turning) it's unlikely to be tie-rod ends, ball joints, or CVs. How loud is it?

 

this is really bizarre. I haven’t driven it since I heard the clunk. I just now started it and drove it out of the garage. No clunk. Backed in and out several times and no clunk. Sorry to bother everyone.

 

It's good to be cautious, especially at 193K. I would definitely recommend the test in the video above. If it passes all that, then the problem if it does reoccur isn't as likely to be life-threatening.

 

Check the bolts holding your brake calipers to the hub. Should be 2 of them. I once lost one and had the clink you describe. It was the caliper pivoting around the remaining bolt and running into my rim. Would do it once, then repeat itself only if I changed directions (forward to backward) as the calipers would pivot the other way. Super scary once I found out what it was.

 

I’m not mechanical, so I will just take it in to my mechanic. I just want to make sure I can drive the 35 miles in to town without dying.

 

Check your control arm bushings. I had a clunk for a while. I literally replaced every part in there and it ended up being the bushings.

 

When was the last time the bushings, ball joints, tie rods, etc... were replaced? Have they ever been replaced?

Might be time for all that stuff anyway.

That said, I had this "clunk" several years about (on acceleration). I did all the BJs, bushings, etc.... It turned out to be my K&N intake system was clunking on the heat shield when the motor would move under torque. Frustrating that is ended up being totally unrelated to suspension, but I did have piece of mind that all my BJs etc were brand new now...

 

Upper or lower?