Went to visit the folks for the holidays and when I came back the first thing I did was hop in the mini to take it for a spin (I get separation anxiety ). But I noticed a rubbing-like noise when I started moving - best way I can describe it is that it sounded very similar to the rubbing noise when the tires scrape against a bunch of packed snow built up in the wheel wells.

This morning it was not as loud, but still there. Can hear it all the time but it's louder when I'm on the brakes, and I can't quite locate where the sound is coming from.

It did snow and rain a bit while I was gone and I don't have a garage, so the rotors were a bit rusty but nothing out of the ordinary.

Anybody have any ideas what could be causing this? And whether it's reason to be alarmed or just something to live with in the winters?

 

Rust on the brake rotors, nothing more. Give it a few hard stops and it will clean them right off.

 

Mine does it after every wash if I don't drive it right away, like daflake said, just rust on the rotors...