Brakes were grinding 3 days after i bought the car - dealership said it was a missing caliper bolt and put it back in. No cost.

Now, 6 months later, it does it again. No work has been done in the area, it's the rear passenger side pad. Its a mild grind under low braking pressure, and occasionally gets rough and seems to stick, it will continue grinding as I accelerate for about 20 feet then frees up. Taking to the dealership tomorrow as they said it would be a free inspection on it since they did it before... Any reason this may happen ?? Just so I know what to ask them tomorrow when I arrive ..

Any help or thoughts are greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!

 

Info: 04 MCS. OEM brakes - not JCW. 90k miles and pads are in good condition barely any wear as its mostly highway miles and they were replaced at 60ish.

 

Have you check all of the pads by pulling the brake pads off?
I have seen 2 MINI's with rear pads that were loose and just wore strange. The rear pad has to clip into place so if it is not in place is will float and wear out faster.

 

2 me, sounds like the caliber isn't sliding well to allow the pad to release. I'd take the caliber sliders out and lube 'em; and pull the pads to check for unusual wear.

The comment about the 'clips' on the GEN1 rear pads is also on target; but pulling the pads will verify this too.

Bring it by, I'll check 'em. Long drive tho.

 

So stealership said it was the pads, worn to 3mm left .... This doesnt make full sense to me because it would always happen, wouldn't it?? They said the rear pads arent OEM. And the wear sensor wasn't working right on both sides. They swapped the pads, hoping this fixes it... If not, it goes back for free again. !

History on the brakes is that they were replaced all the way around 8 months and 30k miles ago. Front are 9mm left but the rear hit 3mm. I assume only the front was replaced now that im hearing this.

 

8 months and 30,000 miles! wow

well, many people do wear out a set of MINI pads in 30k or so . . . .

wear sensors not working? Hmmmmmm

 

I drive 60ish a year, my front pads have 30k miles and are 9mm. .. I am very soft on the brakes. My 2008 Sebring just hit 92k and I'm just about to change them for the first time. My old Saturn had 250k miles and I did the brakes two times in the history of the vehicle.

I am still thinking there is another issue, but we will see how it goes.

 

MINI brakes wear fast

I had a Miata for 12 years and put well over 100,000 miles on the original brakes. On my 02 and 07 S I've gotten between 35 and 40k out of a set. I've done brakes for folks who's sensor went off b4 30,000. Going to after market pads has cut down dust but I don't see any significant change in the life . . .

 

I have pad left on my 2002 Cooper S with about 43,000 miles. If I replace the pads now, is there a good chance that the rotors will not have to be turned? They all look fine.

 

Doubtful they need turning or replacement if no scoring and they "mike" above min. thickness (which is cast into the rotor). When the useable pad thickness gets at or below the backing plate thickness, that's when I'd replace the pads. No sense waiting 'til the sensor gets ruined.

 

Well....if the rotors were NEW lastime pads were installed you should be ok...issue is some pads will wear the rotor to junk in one set....like the oem's usually do to tge oem rotor....so measuring is really the only way to tell. Putting new pads on a almost too thin rotor can cause issues further down the road.....