throwing this out there, maybe a left field throw will help. what about if your calipers are unsticking on the first drive of the day? i know my rear drums do it in the morning. i back up my driveway at night and when i pull out in the morn, i can feel them breaking loose in a few feet.

 

ahh yes that sounds very plausible, good stinkin McNasy, I don't know why i didn't think of that.

 

Front brake caliper makes sense. Great thinking. Maybe thats why I can't make it reoccur. I wouldn't even think being in dry climate.

 

alt-fuel, did you ever figure this one out? I have the exact same symptoms when backing out of my driveway too. It started out just on the driver side and I could feel it pop by my left foot. Lately I've been hearing a low pop on the passenger side as well. 3 months ago I replaced everything up front except wheel bearings and inner tie rods due to worn ball joints, but the popping didn't change.

Calipers is a possibilty. I've been meaning to try rolling backward and forward a few feet first thing in the morning before backing out, but keep forgetting. That may set the calipers and take them out of the equation?

 

No I still have lousy clunk in the morning. I can make it happen now when brake hard. I replaced upper and lower both sides with moog ball joints in fact all the parts are moog. This morning I am going to jack it up and do inspection.

 

Well did inspection and found something the upper A arm bushing shaft have a nut on each end and a washer on the inside the washer was spinning free so with my trusty 15/16 wrench cranked on the nuts which were loose and tightened until bottomed washer not spinning free no more and with road test quiet no popping noise when braking or reverse knock on wood.

 

How did that happen did you take the A arms off to replace the ball joints and forget to tighten the nuts later on install?

I think they are cranked on very heavy like 100 foot Lbs or more.

Glad you found that you could of had the A arm fall off at the wrong time like the freeway going 75.

 

I didn't knock on wood soon enough it is quieter but there is still a cluck .

 

alt-fuel

Not sure how much I can help but if you want I can look at it as a second opinion?

Just leave me a personal message let me know.

Gilbert, AZ at 202 and Williams Field Rd.

 

sway bar bushings or the heater cable (if you have it) believe it or not it does a lot of noise also the tailgate bushings (dont now if theyre called like that)
**edit**havent read the upper posts but those things make a sound like that on my truck