BAD CRACKING WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES

[Greddy X-Plorer]

Well whenever I'm driving and I hit the brakes, there's like this big cracking and the thing is that you can hear it very loud and it gets irritating. When I test the brakes, like, I hit the brake pedal and let the truck go back and forth and you can hear the cracking and squeaking and it's not an issue of the brakes being bad cause I just got new brakes but I took it to my mechanic and he can't find where the craking is coming from but it's loud enough for the car next to me to hear it but I don't know what to do and it's getting on my nerves now. It always happens when I hit my brakes. I can't press on it lightly either cause it's cracking and it's not that something is like going to break it's just like it needs grease or something. I hope you guys understand what I'm saying. Hopefully one of you guys have had this experience before and know what to do about it.

 

[Greddy X-Plorer]

I would really appreciate if someone answered me on this question.

Thanks

 

[MrShorty]

It's hard to picture from your description one possible cause. How are the suspension bushings? The TTB suspension has several bushings that can be bad: axle pivot bushing, radius arm bushing, shock absorber bushing, sway bar bushings (if you have the sway bar). I have a pop in my BII that's from a loose bushing on one of the rear shocks. There are also mechanical parts that could be loose: ball joints, tie rods. There's also the possibility of a little play or binding in the brake caliper. what is the condition of your caliper slide pins? Were they greased when the pads were changed? I assume your mechanic would have checked all of these things, but if he missed anything, check them.

 

[BIG COUNTRY]

i had a similar problem in my 79 t-bird...everytime i push the brake or go in reverse...there is this cracking/ thumping sound...it ended up that my caliper was flopping around...the caliper slide bolt came off and after seeing that, i knew what it is that i heard when i was driving on the freeway...sounded like a damn boulder hit underneathe my car when that damn bolt came off hit my tire and threw it underneathe the car...

 

[Rhett]

Sounds like a radius arm bushing to me.

 

[N2MUDN91]

My brake click when im driving, and stop clicking when i hit my brakes, its because my brake pad on the front passenger side is loose inside the caliper. Im not sure if my calipers warped, or if i just need new brake pads, but it sure is a loose brake pad in my case, after i get going about 35 it stops because the wheel motion hold it to the top so it cant fall back down. its very annoying

Shane

 

[RangerX]

Greddy, can you tell if the noise is coming from front or back?

 

[Greddy X-Plorer]

Originally posted by RangerX
Greddy, can you tell if the noise is coming from front or back?

Well the loud thumping sound definitely comes from the front and it's like a squeeking, cracking sound. You guys are being very helpful, I appreciate that. Any other opinions would help.

 

[Sir Robin]

I think when you say "cracking" noise, you are throwing everybody off the trail. Is it more of a cracking noise (like cracking tree branches or sticks). or just bad squeeking/ squeeling?

I would say radius arm bushings. With me, when applying the brakes at low speed, the front end would naturally dip, causing the bushings to squeek. When it would actually come to a stop, they would squeek again because the front end would go up to its level position. I never noticed it with highway speed braking.
As the bushings got more and more worn out (still haven't replaced them), the squeeking became less severe. Either that, or because the bushings shifted.

With the X in Park, try pushing/rocking the front end up and down. Does it make a noise?

 

[Greddy X-Plorer]

Originally posted by Sir Robin
I think when you say "cracking" noise, you are throwing everybody off the trail. Is it more of a cracking noise (like cracking tree branches or sticks). or just bad squeeking/ squeeling?
yeah it's just a bad squeaking and squealing

 

[jimbo74]

could be any number of things.... start by spraying wd40 on those aforementioned parts.... if it goes away.... replace hte part you sprayed

 

[redexplr]

I think I have the same exact noise you have and I had a full inspection (for free with a radio station promo) and here what they came up with in the front. upper and lower ball joints need replacing, repack front wheel bearings, brake pads, drivers side radius arm bushing at the frame.

I would lay odds that either your ball joints, or radius arm bushings are what is causing the noise.