Hi Guys,

I got an 06 MCS, with 15,000 miles. I live in Chicago and lately we had a lot of bad weather. It’s been snowing and they put a lot of salt on the ground. Also I have not washed the car (or did not rinse it) for about 3 weeks. Yesterday, I noticed that my front brakes were squeaking. They only squeak when I brake soft and steady, when I brake hard, there fine. MY QUESTION: is this because of bad weather ( a lot of salt and dust accumulating on the brakes) or is something wrong with my brakes. Also what do you guys use to clean your brakes, I used the regular brake cleaner from any auto parts store and seemed to have work fine before

Thank you,
Rat48

Once a MINI owner, always a MINI owner

 

you may have some &*^* between the pads and piston ... that is often where the noise comes from.

best fix if that is the case is to take the pads off and use some brake pad silicone between the pad and piston.

Dirty brakes will also squeek and a good spray with brake cleaner shoud have you squeekless

 

I also have an '06 (MC, 20,000). Been having the same problem. Had the dealer look at it once, and they told me they were 'fine'. Since this winter (specifically the past month), the squeaking has gotten more common. Mine also is only on a slow and steady brake...but of COURSE you can't make the car do it when you want it to... !

I'm gonna have the car down by the dealer this saturday...should I ask them to pop everything off and clean them (since it's a bit on the cold side to do it at home)?

((Thanks Cor for the input! ))

 

If it's just happening when you 1st start to drive in may have something to do with the super low temps we are dealing with at this time. I would not rush out and pay the dealer $100 an hour to "fix" something that might be fixed with warmer temps, this weekend, and a good under body wash.
I have not had this issue with my Chicago MINI, but my GF has with her car during the last cold snap, went away with higher temps, and is now back.
Cold Temps do odd things to metal.

 

AutoXCooper

I like the eyes on your lights! Did you get them done in Xtreme Graphics, on North Ave? I was there once getting some stickers and they told me they do it for a lot of MINI's

 

I notice the sqeaky noise only when 1st driving the 1st couple of miles of the day. Outside temps here in NYC has avg between 26-36. Some days lower than that.

Noise goes away after the 1st couple of miles. No noise after restarts. Usually get it again 1st thing in the morning. More prevalent with lower temps.

But it is irratating