Brake Noise or Suspension Noise

[Stang613]

Alright guys, figure this one out..

I'm in traffic today, and this noise "appears". Basically, when I come to a stop the drivers side makes this knocking and groaning noise, only when I brake (7 mph and lower, like crawling), it sounds like something is loose, and its annoying.

Before I bring it to a mechanic, maybe this is something I can do, instead of bringing it in.

Furthermore, maybe this symptom correlates to the above problem. When I park the car for an extended period of time (lets say, overnight), the brake pedal is firm (like I pumped the brake before I left it), which would lead me to think theres a problem in the braking system. It's a standard, so the car is in gear and the e-brake is up.

Thanks

 

[J2L06GT]

The e-brake cables where they go thru the flex section at each
rear wheel will bind up from corrosiun in tube.
There is a TSB on it.

 

[Tbone]

Noise you said is from drivers side, front or rear?
And you said pedal is firm when in gear and ebrake is up, probably cause the ebrake is up, so rear brakes are already grabbing, so brake will seem firmer.

First thing I would check is your brake pads, make sure theyre not worn all the way down. And dont look at just the one pad, get your hand in behind the rotor and feel the rotor for etching. Many times Ive seen a caliper seized on the sliders and only the rear pad is working and is worn down to nothing and the front doesnt move so rotor and pad looks perfect.

 

[Stang613]

Drivers side front, sorry. It also might be the strut mounts, but the symptoms don't seem like it.

 

[Tbone]

can try rocking the car forward in gear, see if you can get the same noise as when the car slows down. If its suspension youll hear it. If you coast to a dead stop (no brakes) and it doesnt make any noise you can prob rule out suspension, Im thinking brakes.