What Causes the Clanking Sound When Braking Hard?
3 Answers
The reasons for the clanking sound when braking hard are: 1. Normal activation of ABS; 2. Poor quality of brake pad material; 3. Uneven brake disc; 4. Damaged edge of the brake disc; 5. Foreign objects in the brake disc; 6. Overly hard brake pads; 7. Dirty brake caliper; 8. Mismatched brake pads and brake disc; 9. Insufficient brake fluid. Solutions for the clanking sound when braking hard include: 1. Replacing the brake pads; 2. Replacing the brake disc; 3. Cleaning the brake disc; 4. Cleaning the brake caliper; 5. Refilling the brake fluid. Braking, also known as deceleration, refers to the action that can stop or reduce the speed of moving locomotives, vehicles, and other transport tools or machinery.
That day when I slammed on the brakes on the highway, I suddenly heard a loud clanging noise, and the steering wheel vibrated violently in my hands. As soon as I got home, I crawled under the car to inspect and found that two of the brake caliper mounting bolts were so loose I could turn them with my fingers—the entire caliper was wobbling during hard braking. Another time, the front lower control arm bushings were completely worn out, causing a dull thud from tire displacement during braking. The scariest was helping a friend fix his car—his brake pads were worn down to the metal wear indicators, making a gong-like sound with every brake application. My advice: if you encounter these situations, stop driving immediately. First check brake pad thickness, then use a jack to shake the wheels checking for play. These hidden dangers are life-or-death matters—never delay repairs to save money.
Having worked in auto repair for over a decade, I've encountered many customers complaining about strange noises during emergency braking. The most common issue is completely worn brake pads, where the metal limit tabs on the backside directly scrape against the brake rotors, producing a particularly sharp sound. There are also cases of warped or cracked brake rotors - especially when driving on highways immediately after car washes, as the thermal expansion and contraction can severely damage the rotors. Last time I repaired a car with loud clunking noises from the chassis, which turned out to be excessive play in the tie rod end ball joints, causing the entire suspension to shake during hard braking. I recommend a three-step inspection: check how much brake pad material remains, feel for grooves or uneven wear on the rotors, then shake the chassis bushings. Pay special attention to aging rubber components in vehicles over five years old.
