2016 Camry brake sound
 

Just posting to verify what the service center told me. Please let me know if this is actually a 'thing.'
Bought my 2016 Camry in April and ever since, when backing out, the rear brake(s) make a thud/clunk sound.
Since it's under warranty I took it to the dealership's service center to get it check out.
When talking to the advisor he informed me that's just the brake shifting based on the direction of travel. In other words, if I was driving forward, parked in the garage and then went to back out (in reverse) the next morning it will make that clunk sound as it's shifting to the right position for rear braking.
Wondering if anyone's ever heard of this?

Yes.

Check for having rear disk brakes. This can be confirmed by looking through the tire rim at the brake system. If needed to determine type of brake. Compare rear brakes to the front brakes which are disk brakes.

Disk brakes use brake pads that grip the disk when the brake is applied. The pads are retained in a holder to keep them from moving radially when they grip the disk.

The pads have metal tangs (ears) at each end that install and engage slots in the holder. These tangs are held into the holder by a combination of sheet metal flat springs and clips.

The holder slots are slightly larger then the pad tangs and as a result the pads can move slightly radially.

When the car is moving forward and the brakes are applied. The pads will grip the brake disk and move radially slightly forward in the holder. This until the play between tang and slot is taken out.

If the car is now moved in reverse and brake applied. The pads will then move backward in the holder until all the play is removed.

The clunk noise is from the metal tangs hitting the metal holder after they moved.

Sometimes its possible for the various retainer springs and clips to be left off when the pads are replaced when worn. Or an aftermarket pad installed that may have a slightly smaller tang and thus allow more movement.

However, if the car never had a brake job since new, this is not the situation.

Shifting brake pad noise is a common complaint for cars with disk brakes. Toyota has worked on this issue, they and the dealer are fully aware of situation.

Wow. Thanks for the super-thorough response. Puts me at ease.