1998 Dodge Intrepid Making a clunking Noise front right

I need help please. When ever I brake especially a lower speeds I get
a loud clunking noise in the front right of the car. Not quite sure
what it could be. If anyone has had a similar problem could you please
let me know. Thank you

 

Some possibilities:
(1) There may be more-than-normal clearance (gap) between the ends of
the pads and the steering knuckle. What you hear as a clunk at low
speed would become a quicker, less noticeable noise when the brakes are
applied at higher speed though it would still be happening.

(2) The lug nuts on that wheel could be less than tight, and when you
apply the brakes, the gaps between teh holes in the rotor and the lugs
could be closing and making the noise when you apply the brakes. (This
is probably the least likely of the four possibilities I have listed,
but possible.)

(3) Some other suspension part may be worn or loose, and when you apply
the brakes, the clunk occurs.

(4) I helped a 300M (same car mechanically) owner find the cause of a
clunk that occurred when he hit the brakes. Turned out to be the
control arm where it attached to the frame - the pivot bolt that holds
the arm to the frame was slightly loose, and when he hit the brakes, the
geometry of the suspension put a twisting force on the control arm.
Because the bolt was loose, the gap between the bolt and the holes for
the bolt in the frame and control arm were banging into each other.
When he released the brakes, the twisting force went away, the part
relaxed, and rotated back in the other direction, then he'd here the
clunk again when he hit the brakes again.

On (4), we had to put the car in park and rock the car violently back
and forth while one of us was underneath the car listening, feeling, and
watching for what was causing the noise - we found it. Tightened the
bolt and nut that holds the control arm on - problem solved. Cost $0.00.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Another one: might be the steering rack bushings. When they wore out
in our '00 Intrepid, it sounded to the driver as if the noise were in
the right front (instead of dead center under the front of the
windshield). To check, jack up the right front, see if you can
"steer" the wheel without the left front moving.