95 S14 Knock, knock, knock?

[JOEF]

Someone please help!! My 95 S14 has a distinctive noise/thump/knock coming from the right front that slows as I slow. It only happens under light to medium braking, only going forward, totally gone under heavy braking (or so attenuated you cant feel/hear it). I've got new rotors, pads and calipers all around (no ABS by the way) and when the noise first started I put it up on the lift and the right inner and outer tie rod ends were beyond worn out so I replaced them. I rotated the tires. Still no luck. Would the hub bearing make this happen without making the typical worn out bearing sound at cruising speed? Could the rack be causing this? HELP!!

[tknbkthrsdy4anfg]

Try looking at the rubber strut insulators on top of the struts, they maybe worn out causing the thud.
Does it by chance make noice when you turn lock to lock?

[JOEF]

No, no noise while turning only while braking straight on. I thought it may be the rotor catching the pad and causing the noise so I pulled 5 or 6 "panic" stops and the noise went away for about 4 or 5 stops afterwards. Now it's back. I checked the upper strut mounts (while on the car, on the lift, suspension hanging) they seem ok, no play in any direction.

[sean350z]

Tension rods...your bushings in them are probably shot or they are not tight. If it only happens under braking that's your problem. If you aren't familiar with the vocab, it's the rod that attaches to the front subframe to the control arm.

[JOEF]

FOUND IT!!
OK, I'm the stupid one for not checking this during the brake job, but the bottom slider on the right caliper frame was totally grease-less -- BONE DRY -- I took off both front calipers, then frames, cleaned the slider bores and slide pins, greased them and reinstalled everything...NOISE IS GONE!

So, take it from me, the extra 10 minutes it takes to check, clean and relube the sliders is worth it!!

Thanks for the suggestions and Sean, the tension rod bushings were one of my first thoughts too...(mine are in great shape)...Thanks!!:bowdown:

[240silviaguy]

check to see if the sliders are bent, it most likely will happen again in 10k miles