[asus389]

For a while I have been complaining about a sort of half clunk/squeak when my car rebounds after braking. It happens when I brake with some force (ie not coast to stop), right as the car comes to a stop if not slightly after. I took it to a trusted local BMW independent mechanic who diagnosed worn thrust arm bushings. The fluid had leaked out and the front wheels moved back and forth on stopping as well as vibration when light braking at speed. So the diagnosis fit.

I had the bushings replaced and the vibration on light braking stopped, however the car still does this clunk noise upon braking. They have inspected it and they say everything looks "tight". I am wondering if anyone has any other ideas? I am kind of out of things to check... anyone have similar issues and found a solution? Its a 2006 e90 with 68k miles.

Here is an older video of the noise:

[MilehighM3]

It's possible they didn't install the bushings properly. There is a mark on the bushing and the arm that need to be lined up. If the bushings aren't indexed properly, they don't control thrust. The bushing rubber line molded into it and the arm has a line cast into it. Hopefully they're lined up. I suppose it's also possible you have a worn out ball joint as well. If this was the case you would have a clunk over bumps as well, maybe a speed bump would generate the noise the best compared to braking since the wheels both move back at the same time? Just a couple quick thoughts

[asus389]

I had the car re-inspected by the shop who did the bushings. They said the bushings are in there correctly and ball joints don't have any play. They drove it outside and I could tell that the wheel wasn't moving in hub/housing like it used to do with the blown bushings. I also mentioned it to the dealer when it was in for some work (warranty is up soon, so I had a list of other unrelated items).

Both places commented that they thought this clunk sound was from the brakes. "Normal Brake Sound". Dealer said they'd be happy to sell me BMW brand brakes, but won't guarantee it will fix the noise. I declined because these brakes are pretty new. They are also supposedly OEM supplier pars (ATE rotors/Jurid pads) Does this make sense? Could this clunk really be a brake sound? If so, is there anything I can do to mitigate the sound short of dumping the pads/rotors and starting over? Has anyone used this pad/rotor combo and had similar issues?

I know it sounds stupid, but this clunk is driving me nuts.

FWIW - It doesn't clunk going over bumps and I can't get it to do it by bouncing on the front end of the car.

[Bavarian Tech]

First off, let me say their is NO way in hell the brakes are the issue if the issue. If they were making that much of a noise, you'd be F'd....If I'd have to take a guess I'd say its the flex coupling, try to come to a stop in neutral see if does it, try reverse (safely)..Report back

[asus389]

OK I'll try that. FWIW its a 6MT, so I think its technically always in neutral when coming to a stop (clutch in). But I'll try pulling the clutch out much earlier and coasting longer to see if it has an effect. BTW, excuse my ignorance, but whats a flex coupling?

[Murf]

subframe or swaybar endlinks

[Bavarian Tech]

Flexdisk is the thick ass piece of rubber that goes between the rear of the trasnmission & the driveshalf, generally they go bad at higher mileage,many things can factor into when they go bad, more often its usually a manual just with the added "stress". I wish i saw your thread earlier today, I could have taken a picture of one..I jut replaced one today on an e65.


^ Older BMW but its still the same design for an e90