[HydroStream6]

Hello,

I changed my tension strut bushing to polyurethane this summer. In the last month or so, I've noticed a slight clunk when I first tap the brake pedal that I can feel in the floorboard. The car has 50k miles. Initially I thought that this clunk could be the brake pads shifting in the brackets when the brake is first pressed. I checked them out this weekend as I wanted to do new brakes anyways. The pads new pads fit snug, but the noise hasn't changed.

What I believe may be happening is the tension strut bushings are moving on the inner collar. When these are mounting, the bushings are pressed into the tension strut and then the collar is pressed/inserted into the bushing. The collar is then pinched in the mounting bracket on the car when the bolt is tightened. I'm thinking that since the bushing itself isn't being held, it's shifting right when the brakes are first applied, causing the clunk.

Has anyone had a similar issue? I'm going to get some washers tonight and try to put them between the bushing and the mounting point and see if it changes or eliminates the clunk.

Thanks,
Adam

[HydroStream6]

These are the bushings I'm talking about.

[VXEric]

curious to see how this turns out. I have the same clunk each morning the first time I hit the brakes. I have only had the car a couple of months but as far as i know, the suspension is factory.

I get the same clunk whether I start in reverse, or going forward.

[Biginboca]

There’s been a lot of talk about this. Try a google search for “e90 clunk reversing” to turn up a lot of discussion. What you described is a common symptom in those threads.

There was a TSB about the differential flange sliding on its splines. The official fix is loc tite on the splines to stop it from shifting.

There’s the aftermarket or wrong model brake pad’s movement causing clicking.

There is the chance of a bad suspension bushing too.

It seems like the first one (differential flange) is the most common and probably your suspect. I just installed poly subframe bushing inserts into my rear subframe. In my case the clunk that was there before is just much louder and more noticeable now because the stiffer poly transfers the noise to the chassis better.

[HydroStream6]

My clunking is now gone since I changed out the Strongflex polyurethane bushings and went back to stock. I'm also not the only one. See here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...7#post22622527

The most common cause of the clunk is the brake pads shifting in the brackets. But that was not the case for me.

[VXEric]

appreciate the info and reply!

[Cloud9blue]

Originally Posted by VXEric

curious to see how this turns out. I have the same clunk each morning the first time I hit the brakes. I have only had the car a couple of months but as far as i know, the suspension is factory.

I get the same clunk whether I start in reverse, or going forward.

that's your brake pad shifting in the caliper.

[urbze90]

bad bushings are the cause for the clunk sound FYI EVERYONE

Have an alignment specialist take a look at your car from down under and inspect all suspension bushings

[zero2sixtyZ]

Akebono pads by any chance?