# Wife's Volvo makes "knuhck" noise upon braking. What is?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/wifes-volvo-makes-knuhck-noise-upon-braking-what-is/3416>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 21, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wifes-volvo-makes-knuhck-noise-upon-braking-what-is/3416 "2007-08-21T00:16:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mmiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@mmiller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mmiller)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wifes-volvo-makes-knuhck-noise-upon-braking-what-is/3416/1 "2007-08-21T00:16:07Z")

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So my wife today says “drive my car, it makes a knuhking noise when I apply the brakes”. I said “no I’m busy” (Yes it was a foolish thing to say). IT is a 240 '91 VOLVO WGN w/ 260k+ miles. Anyone that can get me out of the hotseat with some good advice? btw anyone know of a good volvo mechanic in Metro West Boston?  
  
 thanks doubly.  
  
 mm

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**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wifes-volvo-makes-knuhck-noise-upon-braking-what-is/3416/2 "2007-08-21T01:01:24Z")

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> So my wife today says "drive my car, it makes a knuhking noise

This may be the best phoenetic spelling of a noise I’ve ever seen 😉

> when I apply the brakes". I said “no I’m busy” (Yes it was a foolish thing to say). IT is a 240 '91 VOLVO WGN w/ 260k+ miles. Anyone that can get me out of the hotseat with some good advice? btw anyone know of a good volvo mechanic in Metro West Boston?  
> thanks doubly.

knuhking noise eh? I suspect Canadians 😉

when on braking does it do it? Over and over or just once? If it’s just once you could have loose caliper bolts or even a missing caliper bolt. I’ve seen that before and the results aren’t pretty - - generally gouges the devil out of the wheel.

If it’s over and over it could be a problem with the ABS, warped rotors, a loose/broken pad, or even just something caught in the brake.

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**Author:** ![DARTMAN69](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dartman69/32/29_2.png) [@DARTMAN69](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DARTMAN69)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wifes-volvo-makes-knuhck-noise-upon-braking-what-is/3416/3 "2007-08-21T03:11:13Z")

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Have you checked the front and rear knuhck bearings lately. When they wear they can cause severe knuhcking.  
~Michael

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**Author:** ![67\_Chevelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/a5b964/32.png) [@67\_Chevelle](https://community.cartalk.com/u/67_Chevelle)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wifes-volvo-makes-knuhck-noise-upon-braking-what-is/3416/4 "2007-08-21T03:19:52Z")

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front struts…might have a broken spring

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**Author:** ![Big\_Riviera\_1990](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/big_riviera_1990/32/43_2.png) [@Big\_Riviera\_1990](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Riviera_1990)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wifes-volvo-makes-knuhck-noise-upon-braking-what-is/3416/5 "2007-08-21T14:52:50Z")

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Gouges the caliper too.

This is a potentially dangerous situation. Get the car up, wheel off, and check the brakes to see if everything is nice and tight.

-Matt