pop/clunk from rear and brake light flickers

[avatar28]

Not sure if this is a brakes issue or a suspension issue. For the last while, I've felt like I've occasionally heard a scrub or groan from my rear brakes, especially when backing out. More recently, the brake light would flicker momentarily, especially after backing out of the driveway and accelerating. That's gotten worse in the last couple of days and it seems like whenever I accelerate after stopping (e.g. stop sign or whatever) or nearly so (turning off the road) the brake light would come on for a moment. This morning, I started hearing a pop/clunk from the rear, especially when turning right. I could also feel it through the floor when this happened.

Any idea what it might be? A quick visual inspection of the right-rear (where it seemed to be coming from the loudest) didn't reveal anything but I don't really know what to look for anyways. I'm praying it's nothing major, given my current budget crunch (I think I've got the wrong car for a budget crunch, lol).

 

[THE Shobra]

Not sure about your clunk.. But i have seen the brake light flicker on when the brake pads where getting close to the end of their life. I would check out the pads and rotor first, how many miles since your last brake job. I have also had a new set of faulty pads do what you are describing.

 

[rubydist]

check the fluid level in the master cylinder thing. the cap has a switch to turn on the brake light when fluid is low.

 

[luigisho]

Agree with above. Just did front brakes and thought I had enough fluid after bleeding the front lines. Light came on the next day and the fluid level was low. clean the reservoir so I can get a good read, add fluid, all fixed

 

[shobote]

clunks from rear could be worn strut mounts, where the hole gets gouged out. Mine were shot and clunking at about 120k,