For the past few days I have noticed that I'm getting a slight Intermittent grinding noise from my front wheel wells......it is only noticeable at low speeds between 5-15 MPH and gets slightly louder when I am turning at those speeds (like into a parking space). I'm worried, I just recently passed my 50,000 mile mark and with the Holidays quickly approaching am hoping this isn't going to cost me mucho buckaroo's. Anyone with any ideas on what this could be??!?!? I should mention I just installed aftermarket wheels and this started, not immediately, but just after that. What gives???!?!? Help??!?!

 

What is your current suspension setup? What size are the wheels and tires?

You maybe hearing rubbing if its occuring when your turning.

 

CV joint in my guess.

 

Wheel bearing?

 

What tires are you running? I'm still on the OEM Goodyears and strangely enough, they make what sounds to me (and my SA!) like a grinding noise. They went so far as to pull the wheel bearings (under warranty) to check it out before we determined it was the tires. (I've also got a set of the Pirellis, and with those on it's quiet as a mouse)
If you have the old wheels/tires try throwing those back on the front and see if you get the same sound. That would eliminate one (very strange) variable.

 

Long shot....

Hub centric rings in and correct size (if needed)?

 

First thing to try is put the original wheels back on and see how it sounds. if that doesn't cure the problem then your probably looking at CV joints and or wheel bearings.

 

I think I may end up putting the old wheels back on to see if that's it....... I did not get spacers with the wheels as I bought them used......I just got off the phone with American Racing (distributor of Motegi wheels) and they said that I may be needing 1/8 inch spacers but they couldn't tell me for sure as they didn't know what offset I purchased the +45 or the +35's.

Gosh, I certainly hope it's not CV joints or bearings cause I've had those done on other cars I've owned before and let's just say it aint cheap .....I can't imagine what it would cost on the MINI.

I have not modded my suspension and the tires are Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires 205/45R17.

I'm quite bummed

 

Spacers are a cheap fix.

 

Don't fret too much yet. As I said above, my Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires also make a 'grinding' sound. Same as you state above. Not sure how or why, but it's true! Swap out the wheels before you move on to expensive stuff. It would be unusual for a bearing or CV to go at 50K.

 

This is a fairly common noise heard on both the 16" and 17" Goodyear runflat tires. It occurs with low tire pressure and/or normal wear after 15,000-20,000 miles. Just inflate the tires and the noise will go away unless the tires are really worn.

 

Thanks for all the help guys- i'm swapping the wheels out (back to the OEM's) when I get home and see it that'll do the trick then I'll move on to spacers after that!! It'll be a long couple of days without the MINI

 

Hmmmm, I'm accustomed to filling the tires at 32 psi because of the OEM Pirelli's- whats hould I be filling these to??!?!

 

Tire pressures on the Goodyears should be about the same, 32-35 should be good(Check the tire placard on the drivers door jamb) But, if you do normally check the pressures and they are not low the noise might not go away. Tires may be worn and just need to be replaced.

 

Ok so I just called a Goodyear in my area and the gentleman said to me that the RS-A's don't normally do that but that it is a possiblity. When you get low on pressure he said it would get more of a humming sound "like that of a monster truck on pavement". He told me to check the inside part of the wheels for new shiny marks and/or the caliper cause that would be a sign of rubbing in which at that point it would be spacers. He says you would get a certain amount of flex on an aluminum rim and that would cause it, on turns, to rub- in which case the sound would be more prominent. I feel slightly better and a whole lot more knowledgeable. Let's see if all this checks out. I'm hoping that my local auto parts store or rim shop has these so i can get spacers tonight.....anyone mind showing me what they look like so that I know what I am looking for??!?!

 

Yeah I headed this afternoon to one of my local rice shops and talked to a few knowledgeable people on this sorta thing and with all the information that I provided they were able to set me up with a hub centric spacer made by H&R that would help solve and hopefully eliminate my grinding problem....apperently the offset is off and the wheel is everso slightly rubbing against the shock tower and in addition the stock lugs are slightly larger than they need to be for the Motegi dp12's I acquired....all should be back to normal by Wed. of next week. Good thing I kept the S-lites around a tad longer

 

A Happy Ending :-)