2004 MCS, 128K. When applying the brakes after driving in reverse, e.g. during a parking lot maneuver, I hear and feel a 'clunk' in the driver's side wheel/hub/brake assembly. It is the only time I experience any abnormal front end suspension/steering/braking sensations. I am fairly certain that it is not related to LCA bushings as I had them replaced within the past 10K miles. Thoughts? My guesses include tie rod ends, ball joints, or caliper bushings, but I'm uncertain on how to narrow the search. TIA.

 

bump

 

Have you ruled out ABS self-test?

 

I am not familiar with the 'ABS self-test.' What is it?

 

Have you confirmed that the pads are correctly installed with the clip in the caliper?

 

yes

 

I'm having the same issue. Sounds like it is coming from the passenger front wheel

 

Might be unlikely but worth checkin'....tighten lug bolts properly. Had this issue once.

 

It is not the lug bolts.

 

I checked youtube for Minis with wheel clunks and a lot of them have pin pointed suspension bushing issues/looseness. Some guys needed control arm bushings replaced.

 

It is not the lower control arm bushings.

 

It may simply be a slightly worn slider pin/bushing, (as you suggested) allowing a small amount of movement in the calliper with the change of rotor direction, do you know if they were changed or re-used when the last brake job was done?

 

Caliper slider pins and bushings are original.

 

They may be worn or possibly just corroded or rusty causing the assembly to stick a little and the reversing of the rotor direction is just making it evident.

 

My mini was doing the same thing. It's your inner ball joints.

 

I've had both of these issues. The sounds on my R53 hardtop were shortly after I performed maintenance.

I know you've ruled this out, but the caliper clip was the culprit on two different wheels because of my poor installation during a pad replacement.

 

I'm guessing a combination of worn balljoints and the ABS self-test. First time using the brakes after starting the car the ABS pulses the brakes to test the valves/pump.

 

I had this on mine after I changed my pads and I think that it could be the pads/piston getting adjust to the rotor thickness, it happend a few times but not anymore. I had the same noise on my other car after the dealer did the brakes rotors and pads. When you say that the calipers etc are original does that mean that you never had a brake job done? IMO it is the brake pads readjusting but Im not an expert just my 0.2 good luck

 

in my experience, you shouldn't have a clunk when pads and/or rotors are seating...

 

I totally agree, I'm not saying that is normal but I had the same noise/feel on two different cars but since it went away I was happy.

 

Could be pads shifting from one end of the caliper mount to the other as the rotor os running backwards.

 

my clunks were due to the caliper clip not around the pad correctly. brake seating was a different challenge for me.

Hopefully the OP figures it out and updates us