So a few weeks ago my car started making this weird "rocking" or "knocking" sound whenever I first press on the brakes. It does not happen when I come to a stop or at any other time, only when I first press the brake pedal. At the last event the starter said he thought he saw my front wheels shake a bit when I came to stop at the line. The sound sounds like it is coming from the front end some where. So any ideas as to what this could be?

p.s. I have a 95 SE. 17x7 wheels on 225/45 tires and its lowered 1" on kyb springs and struts

 

is the noise is only present when in motion and the brakes are applied? the wheel wobbling may have something to do with it but not necessarily.

 

inspect both rotors front and back side. make sure your wheels are balanced. and perform a Wheel hub inspection which is done on the ground and jacked up

grab the top of the wheels and pull and push on it. there should not be any excess play

 

ok thanks guys ill try that test tomorrow, yes the noise only happens when in motion and the brakes are applied, it does not happen when the brakes are applied while standing still.

 

I agree with the above, jack up the front end and see if there is any play or loose parts. A bad tie rod end could cause instability during braking

 

mmmmm hmmm

I also at one time had a bad Tension rods. and every time i braked. the car would lurch forward when i came to a stop and made a Thump noise. after i put megan racing rods on ... it was much more stiff.

 

ok, so an update on this problem. I check the tension rods, they are fine, they are only 3 months (900 miles) old anyway. also did the wheel/hub test and there was no play in the front wheels at all. however the tie rod ends do look pretty worn out so im guessin that may be my problem.

also i forgot to mention, this problem only happens in forward motion, if i go in reverse (even really fast and slam on the brakes) the noise does not occur.

 

Mine did the same thing at one point but it was just my caliper..one of the bolts came off and everytime i braked it would rock..

 

yeah, we've had similar problems with FD's at my shop. Only the noise was in the rear. It was the caliper sliding assembly (too much play between sliding pins, and the bore). Grab the caliper with your hand and try to rock it back and forth over the rotor, (front to back) there shouldn't be any play. If there is, replace the caliper AND slider bolts.

 

yeaup

also play in the tie end can cause the wobble wobble

 

so i figured out what the problem is. the aftermarket rotors i installed all around a few months back. the holes on the rotors that the studs go through are about 1/16th of an inch too big (i assume for easy installation), so when i first apply the brakes the 2 front rotors "rock" just a little and hit the studs, not hard, but they do.

anyone know of a way to correct this?

 

torque the lug nuts to spec then.

 

well i just WAY tighten all the lug nuts and went for a test drive, and the noise still exists, so now im back to the theory of the problem being the tie rods, unfortunately it will be a few weeks before i can afford some (as i mine as well get some decent ones, with tie rod ends too, probably tein's, unless someone on here for some reason suggests moog's or megan over tein)

 

i didn't think that was the problem at all. you probably just have a loose bolt somewhere if in fact the tension rods are still good. you'd also be having more problems than what you've mentioned if the tie rods were bad or any other suspension part was faulty.

from what i've read the nose almost coincides with the installation of the tensions rods so that's where i'd start.