Need some help in figuring out what to look at.

In the front-end, passenger side, I'm hearing a grinding/metal-on-metal sound under firm braking, but only in the last few feet before coming to a stop. It's like something is shifting forward at the very end when the front suspension is under max compression/load.

• Dealership took a look at the brakes and noted plenty of pad life left and that brakets were properly supported. These are OEM (original) pad and calipers. 30K miles on the MINI.
• They thought it was coilover rubbing, but noise is still there after spacers were installed.
• I checked all the suspension bolts I could reach/access including the set-screws on the ALTA PSRS I have.
• No unusual noises going over bumps or when turning.
• The grinding is present regardless of clutch in/out or in-gear/neutral

I plan to double-check the suspension. Especially the front swaybar bolts and endlinks.
Any thoughts where and what to check for?

 

Mine does this too. It's the rear brakes grabbing. They do most of their work from 10mph to 0mph. It usually happens for me when I first take the car out after it's been sitting 12 hours or more on a day that's really been cold.

A few hard stops and the pads/rotors get cleaned/heated and it goes away.

 

Cool, thanks. My friend and I were under the MINI most of Saturday & during a test drive, he did just that and the suspicious noise did stop for a bit (until the brakes cooled off). May be time for new pads and rotors, anyway.

I really appreciate the tip.