I have a 2002 Saturn SL that just begun having an issue when I brake.

Whenever I push on the brake to stop, I hear a sort of loud tapping coming from the drivers side front wheel area (I verified it comes from that side with the help of a freind).

The tapping goes the same speed as the car, so when I first hit the brake it is fast but as the car slows the tapping slows as well. At times the tapping can be heard while driving at a slower speed, but not nearly as loud as when I hit the brake. I thought at first it may be a CV joint and it got louder because of the force of braking, but I'm not so sure now - there is no grease coming out of the CV joints.

The brake pedal does not pulse either, so I sort of ruled out a bad rotor. The car doesn't have ABS.

Any idea what could cause this tapping? A bad caliper? Wheel bearing?

Thanks,

If you have plastic wheel covers, try taking them off and see if the problem is still there.

You could have anything from a bad CV joint to a set of brakes that are worn out. Best advise I can offer is to take it to a competent mechanic and have it properly inspected.