I've been getting a clunking sound from the back when applying the brakes. The diagnosis was that the pads are sliding/slipping inside the calipers. I've had the pads for about 12,000 miles and this just started a couple weeks ago.

1. Has anyone else experienced this?

2. If so, what is the solution? I don't want to go back to stock pads!

 

I had this happen once, and it was because the pad wasn't properly clipped in on the piston side. I'd check that first.

 

I think you and I have the same problem. I had transmission work done recently but they had to pull off the front two wheels. When I got it back I heard that weird clicking noise. I took it back to the shop, they pulled off the lugs and the left wheel, and said the problem may be with the caliper. I'm thinking of taking off the caliper myself but I don't have that kind of time. I'm going to get the caliper piston re-seated and see if that solves it.

If it does work I'll let you know.

If you get something else done that fixes it let me know too. I would suggest you take it back to the shop that did your brakes. They should find the problem and fix it for you. If they fix it, like I said, drop me a line plz.

 

The fronts are quite a bit different than the rears though. If the rears were done anywhere other than a dealer, definitely check the rear pad that goes on the piston--I had a brake shop screw mine up--the mini brakes are not your typical setup ....

 

the Mini brakes are totally convetional. While not exactly like every other system out there, they are simple floating caliper units.

There are a couple things to look at:

1) Check to see if the pad is clipped onto the piston. This is there so that the pad gets pulled back when the parking brake is released.

2) Check to see if the metal clip (long wire thing) is well seated in the caliper. This is part of the caliper slide mechanism.

3) Check to see that the caliper slides (steel pins under the rubber guide covers) are tight. An allen wrench can tighten them.

4) Do you have slotted rotors? If so, file a bit of a bevel on the leading edge of the pad.

Anyway, I'm a fan of dealer work only when under warranty or for recalls. In general, thier hourly rates are some of the highest, and many stealerships won't give you the care and attention of a local independent shop. Also, if you have any DIY desires at all, brakes are a PERFECT place to start as they are easy to get to, and not hard to work on.

Matt

 

An update for y'all. I took my car back to the shop that installed the pads and learned that this is common with aftermarket pads. They just don't fit as well as OE pads do. Since my pads have worn down over the past 16 months there is more wiggle room so now I hear the clunking. They said it's not a safety issue, just an annoyance. If it were the front brakes, I'd be inclined to replace them anyway, but based on what I was told I'm not worried about the rears.

 

I've got this really really great water front property in south Florida . . .

or

A really really good deal on a bridge . . .

so tell us about this shop? Independent or chain?

 

What type of aftermarket pads are you running? The only time I've ever heard of this is when someone ran an after market pad that did not have clips for the inside caliper (The one that clips on the piston). And from what I understand, it's really not a good idea to run a clipless pad on the rears.

 

OP's post:

Carbotech rear pads slipping?

 

I smell a fish....

 

This was an independent shop. They have 2 advisors and as I was describing the situation to the younger one, the older one immediately chimed in, in the fashion of "I've heard this a million times, here's what's happening." It seemed like a legitimate explanation to me.

I just called Carbotech and got a relatively similar answer, although he disagreed with the comment about aftermarket vs OE tolerances. He added that since my car is 6 years old with 100,000 miles on it, the calipers have worn, too. That makes the movement even more likely. (Also, he confirmed cct1's comment about the rear fitment being tricky for Carbotech to deal with.) So long as the clips are in place, the noise is nothing to worry about and I should get lots more mileage out of the pads.

 

I'm not buying it. A properly functioning piston will adjust to the thickness of the pad, thus eliminating any 'wiggle room'. Not buying 'calipers have worn' either. The slider pins may need to be lubricated (mine were dry as a bone), but the caliper is not a wear item. If the dust boot has torn, that could cause the piston to hang, but otherwise a weird noise means something should be addressed.
Did they pull the caliper and confirm that the clips are properly in place?

 

Pads are not attached to the piston. Have it checked out.

 

The pads DO clip on the piston. The problem is it's very easy not to clip the pads on properly--you have to slide them in from the top directly onto the piston (you can't do it from the side; Matt has said it's not an unusual setup, but I've seen them installed improperly more than once--I even had to show a MINI instructor out on the track who was having problems changing the rear pads the easy way to do it); when it's done properly it'll catch on the piston--the pad stays on the piston, but you can still rotate the pad on the piston. The problem is that some places will simply set the pad in place like you do on the outside caliper (they should know better, or so you'd think), so that the piston hits the clips,and the pad is floating in place instead of being clipped, resulting in the piston is hitting the clips instead of the backing plate. Not only is this noisy, but it's potentially dangerous.

Happened to me once (which was the last time I let anyone else work on my brakes), and it's been mentioned on here before.

 

I was agreeing with the statement that the pads had not been clipped to the piston correctly.

Same as you.......went thru the same thing. LOL

 

LOL sorry man--read it too literally, my bad.

 

np.....