woot1524

Ok I've searched the forums and came up with no definite answers. Here is my list of problems. I just bought this car about two months ago; it's an 87 N/A with 4 lug hub. Now when ever I stop going at slow speeds the brakes screech very loudly and I hear a clunking noise coming from all the wheels(I think, sounds like it) at the beginning of the brake and at the end, I can feel it in the pedal but not in the steering wheel. I check the brake pads and they are all relatively new with lots of pad left and the rotors show no excessive wear. The calipers are not loose, was the first thing I checked, and I don’t see any fluid leak around them either. Now a little background information, when I bought the car it was severely low on brake fluid, I mean low as can be, so I don't know if some air got into the system or the master cylinder or what but it can't be good, could be related to the problem or not. I don’t know if air in the system would cause any of this.

So any information, advice, and past experiences on this would really be appreciated, thanks

Icemark

I would be checking for loose parts, and the condition of the rotor. It's common to see the 4 lug rotor get glased if the last owner abused it.

WAYNE88N/A

If you have air in there, they would feel "spongy".

How gunky-looking was the fluid in the master cylinder? It might be time for a good brake fluid replace/ bleeding for the whole system...

woot1524

Well the rotors probably do need to be resurfaced but the clunking is my main issue, I'm guessing I can fix the squeal with a brake job with some good brake pads. But the clunking is my main issue that probably needs to be fixed before it breaks something else. Well I didn't get a chance to look at the condition of the brake fluid; I saw it and promptly filled it up. Now to do a full brake system flush I just bleed, bleed, and bleed until I think I have all the old fluid out while adding more fluid?

woot1524

bump^

blackbirdzach

I'd guess warpped rotor?????

WAYNE88N/A

Most of us clunk, including me, every now & then- mine happens during light to moderate braking, but not during heavy braking...

I now figure it is the pad assemblies "clunking" against the caliper "fingers", used to think it was a piston sticking in the bore, but absolutely zero dissimilar braking was felt, so I ruled that out. It happens, but it doesn't bother me much anymore...