[Sandibatch]

2017 SEL, new to me, 36k miles. When changing direction and applying the brakes (forward to reverse, or vice versa), I get a clunk in the front brakes. It’s almost like the pads have play fore/aft in the calipers and applying the brakes moves the pads. I have a company ‘18 Explorer I’ve driven for awhile, and it does the same thing. When I got my Taurus earlier this month, I heard this again almost immediately.

Common issue? Thanks!

 

[dundun]

I would say it's neither common nor good. Something is either loose or warn out. If this happens on applying the brakes the first thing I'd check is the caliper brackets. Those mofos need to be bubba-tight (something like 120 ftlbs). Pads do not really move around unless previous owner managed to put some ilfitting crap. I mean hell, I have trouble squeezing them into the guides the fit's so tight. Also, it may not be brakes at all, could be something in the suspension area, ball joint or CA bushing. When you apply the brakes you introduce an opposing force and that could be what the clunk is. There's not much that can clunk in the brakes. Basically either the mount/bracket or slider pins.

 

[Sandibatch]

I would say it's neither common nor good. Something is either loose or warn out. If this happens on applying the brakes the first thing I'd check is the caliper brackets. Those mofos need to be bubba-tight (something like 120 ftlbs). Pads do not really move around unless previous owner managed to put some ilfitting crap. I mean hell, I have trouble squeezing them into the guides the fit's so tight. Also, it may not be brakes at all, could be something in the suspension area, ball joint or CA bushing. When you apply the brakes you introduce an opposing force and that could be what the clunk is. There's not much that can clunk in the brakes. Basically either the mount/bracket or slider pins.

With so few miles on the Taurus I find it really odd, and the Explorer is at 71k. I’ll pull the wheels and give it a once over, and check torque on everything too. Thanks.

 

[kekaye56]

When I purchased my 17' with 33K on the clock, the rear brakes were already worn out. I found the caliper mounting area for the pads was too tight (left over casting slag) and needed to be worked a little. I wonder if maybe your was worked a little also, just too much. These cars were manufactured in a country with very cheap labor. Mind you, the prices never reflected that.