Clunk and pull

[kjhansen]

Howdy! My '87 TR makes a loud clunking sound when I apply the brakes and it pulls to the left. The noise appears to be coming from the left front tire, and the steering wheel is being pulled when the pull occurs. The clunk also happens when I go over a bump, like coming into the driveway or a speed bump. I've taken the tires off both sides. No brake fluid leaks, brakes seem to clamp down just fine, lots of wear left on the pads, and the rotors aren't scarred. I checked the back brakes too and they were good also.
Could this be bad ball joints or a-arm bushings on the drivers side? Or maybe a combination of bad joints/bushings and a bad caliper on the right? How can I tell if the ball joints are bad? A-arm bushings?
Keith

 

[UNGN]

90% of the time the upper A-arm bushings are cooked under the down pipe. I've had good luck with polygraphite. May want to put a heat shield around there to prevent further occurance.


upper a-arm swings back under braking, tire toes in and car steers left.

 

[Jimn8or]

When I experienced what you describe, it was my upper control arm bushings. Like UNGN, I used PG bushings and I did add the heatshield. Works mint now.
HTH
Jim

 

[kjhansen]

How hard is it to replace the a-arm bushings? Looks like the spring has to come out or at least be compressed and left compressed.
Keith

 

[tc86gn]

The spring doesn't come into play when doing the uppers. Just keep a jack under the lower A frame.

 

[kjhansen]

Ah, of course. The spring is based against the frame and the lower a-arm. Obvious.... Thanks.
Keith