Simple question. 1,290 miles. When I first begin driving the car after sitting all night, or for a long period of time, the first time I hit the brakes there is a slight knock noize. It's coming from the driver side rear. Occasionally it will happen when I hit the brakes in reverse as well. I was thinking it was breaking in (the brakes) as it was louder initially, but now I'm second guessing my thoughts. Any ideas? Swaybar knocking? Thanks!

 

It could be something loose, like the lugs, caliper, or suspension. If that's not it, are you sure you're not "catching" a pad from rusty rotors? Don't park all the time with your e-brake (park it in-gear); parking with the e-brake will promote the pad sticking to the rotor.

HTH,
Ryan

 

sounds normal. if this is not a very loud noise, and it only happens the first time you hit the brakes, especially if you've left the park brake on. if this is very loud, or if it happens every time you hit the brakes in reverse, it could point to a missing spring, or clip; or the pads could just be slipping slightly in the carrier

 

I also thought of sliding pads, but wasn't sure that was possible. Is it worth it to bring it to the dealer, or pull the wheel off myself and check the hardware?

Thank you for the quality responses.
Ryan, I've always use the e-brake, but I'll use the gears and see what happens. It's definitely not the sticking pad on rusty rotors, I am very familiar with that, and this isn't the same. It's not as loud.

 

9:30 AM appointment at Hendrick MINI. That's what the warranty is for right? I'll try to remember to report the findings, or lack there of.

 

They found nothing. Re-toqued the bolts and it still makes the noise. I'm scheduled to bring it in next Wed for a more thurough check. Before then, I'm getting ready to roll it up on the ramps and look under there. Swaybar making the noise? I have no idea. It only happens when I hit the brakes for the first time, either in reverse or going forward. Seems like something is shifting each time. We'll see.

 

Just to let you know my 05 does this too. I'm really not to worried about it because like you said it just happens the first time you hit the brakes. To me it just sounds like the pads sticking to the rotor or just scraping some rust off, but I'd appreciate it if you could post up what the dealer finds.

 

We have two 05 MINIs and they both do it too. I'm guessing that it's just the pads reseating themselves within the carrier of the brake caliper. The outboard pad isn't clipped into the caliper like the inboard pad is and so it's free to move around a bit. Each evening we drive our MINIs into the garage and then the next morning we back them back out again (or vice versa). This changing of direction forces the pads to reseat (due to the different rotating direction of the brake rotor) and the brakes make a brief clanking noice as they move into position. This is perfectly normal behavior in my opinion and you're probably just more aware of the noise the first time you get into your MINI and drive away in the morning tis all.

 

Thank you very much for your replies! I really appreciate your views being that we all own the same year. You've definitely put me more at ease now. I didn't see anything out of place when I put my car on the ramps this afternoon (not that I'm some sort of expert, my wife reminded me of that). Well, maybe I'll cancel my appointment. I'll call them on Monday and ask if they can drive a different 05 and see if that one makes the same noise. I will definitely let you know what they say. Thanks again.

 

Check my thread Clack!... mine was doing that, the dealer disassembled my brakes, cleaned and regreased everything and reassembled... noise gone. I would get the noise any time I drove at low speed.

 

Cardiac, thank you for your post. I will mention this to the dealer on Wednesday. I was confident that it was making it on one side, but after driving with my seats down, I'm convinced that it's coming from both sides as there are two clack noises. Must be both brakes.

 

Our 2005 MCS (850 miles) makes a click also on ONLY the first brake application after starting. I'm not worried about it. Brake performance is fine.

Dave

 

i have an 05 MCS about 3800 miles and never had the noise your talking about.

 

One more thing, when coming to a stop, brakes applied lightly, they squeak. Before I thought it was the dust, or temperature changes. Apparantly not. I think the rebuild is necessary. I'll tell the Service Mgr tomorrow. The guys at Hendrick MINI have been great to work with so hopefully this will be handled shortly.

 

I have the squeak also as I come to a stop on my 05 MCS. I only have 1300 miles. Let me know what happens to the squeak after you take it in. I'm going to listen for the knock now that you mentioned it.

 

I'll post after I speak with them tomorrow morning as well. This has been happening since I picked it up, and I just thought it was break in time. Oh well. This could be used as a good excuse to upgrade the brake system, but I don't think my wife would buy it. Literally and figuratively.

 

My new '05 MCS does the click noise and my ex-2004 MCS did it also. In the '04 the noise finally went away after 10K miles.

Nothing to worry about.

 

Tell them to call Mini of the Woodlands in The Woodlands (Conroe) Texas...

 

Cardiac, I'll let them know. I did speak to them this morning and told them what the board was saying, and he was very responsive to it and said he'd let the tech know so when I bring it in, they will be ahead of the game. I'm sure I wouldn't be paying much attention to it, but my 03 didn't make this noise. Comparing is a nightmare.

 

I told the Service Manager about CARdiac's findings. Brought the car in this morning, and sure enough, the brake pads were dry as a bone. They removed both driver and passenger brake assemblies in the rear, applied the lube/buffer/??? and reinstalled. Silence when I hit the brakes now. No squeaks, and better yet, no clunk. I recommend that anyone with this noise, bring their car in. It took them 90 minutes. The brakes worked fine, but the noise bugged me, now it's quiet.

Thanks to everyone who posted!

 

Glad I could help!!

Joel