The other day I had my Mini jacked up to fit some new wheels. There was a quite a bit of drag on the rear brakes. At first I thought I had the parking brake on but it wasn't. Is that normal or should I have it looked at?

 

No, it's not normal. I believe there IS an adjustment on the parking brake. Need to have it looked at...

 

I didn't think so, its only on the rear brakes and will have to look into it. I wonder what its doing to my mileage.

 

When I changed the rotors and pads on my '02 MCS and later on my '05 MCSC, I did not notice any excessive drag on the rear. They rotated freely.

 

MINI Cooper Service Manual 2002, 2003, 2004 from Bentley Publishers page 340-30:


Parking Brake

The parking brake is operated from the parking brake lever by two Bowden cables, with a left-right compensator fitted between the brake lever and an adjustment nut under the lever in the center console.

The parking brake stops the car through the rear caliper piston acting directly on the rear brake pads which, in turn, presses on the brake rotors (discs).

The parking brake is self-adjusting, with the adjustment being made at the caliper piston. A special tool is required to wind back the piston when fitting new pads.

Page 340-31:

Parking brake, checking and adjusting

Check parking brake as follows:

Release parking brake lever. Check to see that there is no drag at rear wheels. (My bold font...)

Pull up brake lever 1 notch. Again check to see that there is no drag. Parking brake warning light, however, may be ON.

Pull up lever 2 notches. Check to see that there is a slight drag at each wheel and that parking brake warning light is on.

Drive vehicle and pull up on parking brake handle. Check that rear wheels lock up.

I say again. You may want the MINI sevice department look at your car. :smile: