Popping Sound When Braking

[ttora4runner]

I've had a popping sound for the past couple of months when I brake/come to a stop and when I release the brake pedal to go again. Any ideas what would be causing the popping sound while braking? Stuck piston? Pads loose in the calipers? ?

 

[Spork]

Coming from the front or the back?

On a 4runner?

 

[Max Power]

Ball joints loading and unloading?

 

[ttora4runner]

Front. Yes, on my 4runner.

 

[ttora4runner]

Ball joints loading and unloading?

They are brand new.

 

[Spork]

I'd probably check the shock/struts, see if you have anything loose there. Check brake pads for strange wear, If I remember right the brakes are pretty easy to swap out if you had to. Stand on side of road and have someone stop where you are standing and see if you can hear something more specific on where it is coming from. Bounce on the front bumper to see if you can hear anything strange.

 

[flexyfool]

A bushing is worn out somewhere in the suspension causing metal-to-metal contact?

 

[Tonkaman]

I had this same problem this year. Turns out the shop that installed my new upper control arms never tightened the bolts down !

 

[sixstringsteve]

I would assume front a-arm bushings. How many miles on the rig?

Sway bar bushings could be making some noise too.

What UCAs are you using?

 

[ttora4runner]

I would assume front a-arm bushings. How many miles on the rig?

Sway bar bushings could be making some noise too.

What UCAs are you using?

LCA and LBJ replaced in January. UCA replaced 3 weeks ago with Lightracing UCA.

Sway bar bushings I replaced those last year.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Can you feel it in the pedal? Is it more of a clunk?

 

[ttora4runner]

You can feel it in the floor. Ya, I guess you could say it's more a clunk.

 

[sixstringsteve]

hm... does it happen every time you brake, or just sometimes? Does it happen when going over bumps or does it happen on flats too?

 

[ttora4runner]

Doesn't happen over bumps just when I brake. It happens about 90% of the time.

I've done a quick visual inspection (can't do much in the hotel parking lot) and I didn't notice anything any out of place or so excess wear. Apart of me wants to think its a motor mount since it started to do this after I got it back my 4runner from having engine work done but besides doing a visual inspection I'm not sure what else to check.