Quick back story:
Stationed in Germany, before shipping my 03 r53 over had a shop do a once over to ensure I would pass registration requirements here. Every thing turns out fine except tires for winter and brakes. Changed the tires and rotors, put on ebc red brakes. Car arrives, and get to inspections and a few things are noted: Right Control arm bushing is cracked, and my back wheels do not spin freely when lifted and e brake is off.

I ordered some power flex bushings(yet to get them installed, all i have found is MINI to do it out here any they want 400euro to drop the sub frame)

The car has 33k miles, stock suspension.

After a 200 mile trip, at speeds averaging around 115mph, no issues until I turn in my drive way and back up. The grinding sound is only heard when the car is moving at low speeds and when turning the wheel to the left. No sound when straightening or turning the wheel right. No vibration, other sounds or any other issues in steering that I can tell. Today when driving to work, I could faintly hear a rubbing or grinding sound as the tire would spin.

Im not a big fan of taking it into the stealership, but am out of other options here. I havent found any other shops that work on mini in my area and want to make sure it is fixed correctly.

As for the rear tires, I did clean the calipers and do not feel any resistance when driving. Kinda at a loss here.

Not much of a mechanic, and need a solid opinion here. Thanks

 

stock wheels and stock tire size? if not, maybe they rub in the inner fender wheel? check to make sure the backing plates behind your rotors are not rubbing the rotor.

check wheel bearings follow this procedure
rear calipers will drag by their very nature. nothing you can do about that. its normal.

good luck!

 

Hello,

I'm having this same issue with my 2005 MCS. I notice a very slight grinding noise when driving at slow speeds or when turning coming from my front left wheel area. It sounds like the sound of rubbing your hands together if you will.

I took the wheel off and tried spinning the rotor with my hands. 3/4 of the rotation is difficult to turn. The other 1/4 is freely spinning.

I'm not concerned about this, because I haven't noticed any more brake dust wear on this wheel than any of the others. It's just REALLY ANNOYING.

Can anyone help me out?

 

For the OP, jack up the car on all fours and get under the offending wheel. Good possibility that the rear sway bar is off center and possibly rubbing on the wheel rim or simply a piece of gravel is stuck behind a backing plate and the rotor.

 

Check your upper strut bearings. If it easily reproduced just have some one turn the wheel while your under the hood with a stethoscope on the top of your struts. When they go bad they will make a grinding noise at low speeds or when turning stationary.

 

It''s not my upper strut, as I have watched a video on here of the sound when it goes bad. I'll post a video of the noise I am talking about.

 

 

at speeds averaging around 115mph,

mods ..... doesn't this violate the terms and conditions?

but who cares . . . . old original post.

is OP even active anymore?

nope , just checked ... that was his last post

maybe he's reading . . . .

 

Is this a reply to me?

 

I'm assuming that he was driving in Germany (that's where he was/is stationed) and that it was on an autobahn. So I don't believe that he was breaking any laws if that is what you were getting at.