Loud noise on hills

[ihimss]

My 2001 Toyota corolla (150K) often makes a loud thumping noise when I brake on a hill. Like "Thump thump thump" and it slows as the car slows. Sounds like its coming from the front axle. Once in a while it's a double thump (thu-thump, thu-thump). Definitely only happens on a grade/hill. Visual inspection of brakes shows nothing obvious.

I think this happened once when I was not breaking but not 100% sure. Also dont know if this is related--Recently I had to replace my front passenger tire even though it was just months old. That didnt make the problem better or worse.

Any ideas or suggestions???

[fishexpo101]

Try rotating the tires and see if the noise follows the tires. Since it only happens on grades/hills - sounds like when the suspension is loaded/unloaded. Could be a bent wheel, bad hub, or loose suspension part.

You mentioned that you had to replace a front tire - was that due to abnormal wear or a road hazard (nail in tire, etc.)? Have you had a alignment done on the car? Typically, how do the tires wear - pretty evenly or is there definite trends (wear more on the inside/outside of the tread, wears faster on one side of the car, etc.).

[yanlapanic]

Originally Posted by ihimss

My 2001 Toyota corolla (150K) often makes a loud thumping noise when I brake on a hill. Like "Thump thump thump" and it slows as the car slows. Sounds like its coming from the front axle. Once in a while it's a double thump (thu-thump, thu-thump). Definitely only happens on a grade/hill. Visual inspection of brakes shows nothing obvious.

I think this happened once when I was not breaking but not 100% sure. Also dont know if this is related--Recently I had to replace my front passenger tire even though it was just months old. That didnt make the problem better or worse.

Any ideas or suggestions???

I think youre problem is front disk that are old .

If it only happend when you brake it is not the tire .