Gen 3 - Light thud when low speed braking and initial acceleration

[mard]

On the gen 3 I'm getting a slight thud when low speed braking and initial acceleration. It doesn't happen all the time but it is getting worst. Gen 3 has 190k miles. The thud is non metallic in nature and feel like rubber to rubber slip so I'm thinking it's one of the bushings /mounts. Sounds like it's coming from front, driver side. Mechanic thought it was lower control arms bushings and I ended up replacing front upper and lower control arms (driver and passenger side). That wasn't the issue. Any one have any ideas what it might be?

 

[lev]

Could be motor mounts, but sound would probably be more metal-on-metal then. You could test that by having a helper change gear (park to drive, drive to park, park to reverse) while keeping car stationary (foot on brake + handbrake) and observe if motor rotates in place. Could also be failing ball joints

 

[mard]

Thanks lev for your input. Took it to two reputable shops and they can't seem to pinpoint where the problem is coming from although they hear the occasional thud. Whole upper and lower control arms including ball joints were replaced. Rig was checked by both shops, all rubbers appear to be in a good condition. Shops wanted to avoid changing things to find out that is not the issue. Curious if anyone know suspension specialist in the so cal area.

 

[Inyo_man]

If you already inspected the engine mounts, I'd suggest inspecting the front differential mounts.
I replace these parts recently (one of the engine mounts was broken completely in half.
The engine mounts are fairly straight forward, but the front diff. mounts are a bigger project.
You can inspect all of these mounts with a flashlight from under the rig.
HTH

 

[FlipperFla]

It sounds like a similar problem I had and it turned out to be the tranmission mount. Test it the same way Lev suggested in above post.

 

[Doing_Dirt]

Any chance your brake calipers are sticky?