I've been back to the dealership 4 times since June due to various "minor" issues with my '06. One issue that has been ongoing and consistently annoying to me is the fact that the brakes on my car have squealed since day one. Initially, I bought into the fact that the brakes needed to break in, and didn't let it bother me. Took it in last month when I reached 5K, to have heated washers checked and brakes looked at due to their excessive squeal.
Brakes squeal when depressed, gets louder when I come to a complete stop.
SA told me that they took the brakes apart, found that the rotor's were glazed a bit, roughed them up and told me essentially that "I needed to be more aggressive" when it came to braking and that "all Mini's brakes squealed" especially when they came to a stop and this was exacerbated by cold weather.

This sounds a little odd to me - so I'll ask the masses here who have much more experience with this little car than I. I've owned many cars over my 25 years of motoring, this is the first one that I've ever been told that I don't know how to brake properly with. Am I missing out on a special techique. Perhaps now since I've gone from stick to automatic I'm messing up???? Please advise....Thanks!

 

looking forward to the responses on this one...
and...
we have heated washer jets? At least 06's?

 

As newbie, I've got very little experience (less than 1,000 miles) but no issues with squealing. That's in town and freeway driving. I'm wondering if you took one off the lot for a test drive if they all squeal.

 

Heated washer jets come in the cold weather package.

My brakes to occcassionally make some noise when I stop, usually the first time I drive when it's cold outside. I have no idea whether this is a "normal" thing or not.

 

I felt the same when I first heard the squeek but I now do believe that it's normal for the Mini. It happens to most of us when the weather gets colder & usually at the end of a soft stop. It will go away when the weather warms back up. I have learned to live w/it & I don't really even notice it so much anymore

 

Hey there,

The brakes on my 04 MCS do squeel once in a while - but not all the time. Normally I can get mine to stop by

A. cleaning the brake dust from the wheels / brakes

B. Doing a "agressive" stop or 2.

If yours are doing it all the time - I would see a different dealer.


Good luck

 

I had that problem last month, my SA told me the same thing. I walk away thinking a 30k car with only 12k miles this should not be happening. Seems to happen less often now. Wonder if this is more common on factory pads only?

 

in cold temps below freezing mine squeals little under 5mph coming to
a complete stop.

 

Snooter:

That was essentially my feeling after talking to the Mini SA, honestly I dunno. I have an appointment tomorrow to get one of my all-season tires (purchased from my local, very trustworthy tire dealer who also did work on my previous non-Mini vehicle) plugged since I developed a slow leak after running over a nail. I'm going to ask him his opinion about the brake issue as well to see if he has any experience with brakes on Mini's and if he wouldn't mind taking a look while he has the tire off and giving me his thoughts.
Certainly is annoying, especially when you're shelling out this type of $$ to get this kind of flippant answer, IMO from the SA.

 

NO Brakes are supposed to squeal!! It should only happen if you have just washed or driven through rain other than that the squealing is a sign something is not right!!!!!

Be it a lack of anti-squeal used a rock in between the rotor and the pad or the pads being warn out, uneven braking, glazed rotors, inproper bedding, etc. Most of these are things easily checked and fixed.

First thing is first locate which wheels, front rear left right or combination? Does the car pull uder braking? to the OP if you rotors are glazed and the "roughed them up" this is only haf the equation take a look at the brake DIYs there are some links for how to properly "bed" the pads and that should eliminate the squealling should glazed be the true issue. Is a pad dragging? Does the car brake evenly? Have you followed the gentle application of the handbrake occasionally per the instruction manuals outlines? (pg 55 I think it is).

Brakes aren't supposed to squeal, but it may take some work to figure out why they are.

Cold brakes a little squeal is ok but once you do 2 or 3 stop s that should be a gone.

 

My brakes sqeal quite a bit. They don't bother me but my daughter reminds me constantly. When the pads wear out, I'll replace them with something differnent that shouldn't have the same problem.

 

Should be covered under warranty at no cost to you, do you have another dealer option?

 

My brakes don't squeal. Never have. That's what is normal.

 

Consistent squeeling of brakes would suggest a problem (which could be as minor as a build up of brake dust, as mentioned already).

 

Are we talking a constant squeak squeak squeak or when applying brakes you hear a harmonic noise from about 20mph to zero?

 

This is basically the same answer I got last weekend. I did not take it as being flippant, because the SA also added that the MINI is really a performance car. I was only used to that phrase being applied to "muscle car", but he said its meant to be driven more aggressively than the average family sedan. I've also read a couple articles about "bedding" brakes that are pretty aggressive! "Multiple stops from 80 to 10 till brakes start to fade." (should be done on a track if possible for safety) SA said when you can smell the brakes (hot) they're ready for use. I might add that although I enjoy the thrill of "speedier" cornering and braking, I need to get a more spill-proof coffee cup!!!

 

Coffee then motor

 

sorry but I have an O5 MCSC with cold weather package, do I have heated jets? Where and how do they heat the fluid?

 

AhHah! Don't drink and drive becomes more general!!

 

I've got 7K miles on my 06 and have had no squeeling....ever. I do have the JCW brakes though, so I don't know if that makes a difference.

In my past though, I've only experienced squeeling when there is a problem (on my different cars).

Doesn't sound right to me.

 

My brakes don't squeal, neither do the ones on my wife's Cooper.

When someone is always light on the brakes, it can glaze the pads and being more aggressive can eliminate it, but if it is consistent and all the time, then you need to go to another dealer who will fix it.

 

You SA is giving you a load of carp. At 15,000 miles my brakes don't squeak. From what your SA says I have defective brakes.

 

Go with a Big Brake Kit! haha just a thought

 

I called about my brakes being squeaky and was also told it was normal and I should "get on the brakes" to make it stop.

It is weird that it is such a widespread problem and many people are getting the same answer from the dealers.

 

If I were you i would let it go......it seems everytime I take my car in for an issue it comes back with another issue. If you can live with it then dont worry about it. As long as its been documented you shouldnt have anything to worry about in the future. My .02