I've got myself a fine new 2003 Cooper with 5 speed manual trans. On occasion, when I hit the brakes at slow speeds it feels and sounds like the brake pedal is grinding the gears or something. This can't be good. Any of you Miniacs have a clue as to what is wrong?


And no, I haven't ruled out operator error

 

Are you in gear, or neutral when hitting the brakes and this happens?

 

Good question. Not sure, but it usually happens when I'm approaching a stop sign here in the neighborhood.

 

Under hard braking or normal ? Wet / icy roads ? Only at that location ?

Might be the ABS system. It feels like a grinding / creaking in mine when wet or icy and I brake hard. Just a weird feeling in the seat.

 

I agree with kesh420 the grinding noise cuold be the ABS, and let me tell you in the mini the sound is nothing compared with other cars, like BMW or mercedes.

 

>>I've got myself a fine new 2003 Cooper with 5 speed manual trans. On occasion, when I hit the brakes at slow speeds it feels and sounds like the brake pedal is grinding the gears or something. This can't be good. Any of you Miniacs have a clue as to what is wrong?
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REALLY Sounds like ABS. Don't worry unless it happens all of the time.

 

If this is only happening when you first drive the car each day and only happens for the first couple of stops it is the natural build up of rust on the brake disks being scraped off.