Brake Pad Rattle

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Discussion

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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Hi all,

Bought a 2015 Mini Cooper S from a main dealer with 6k miles on it about 4 months ago, about a month after I picked it up it developed what appears to be a rattling sound coming from the front brakes.

Basically, when going over rough tarmac or broken surfaces there is a rattle from the front end which disappears when the brakes are applied even slightly. Being under warranty, I took the car back and they claimed to have resolved the problem with a 'brake clean'. This resolved the noise until driving over a cobbled street on my way home from the dealer, and the noise was back for good. Since then its been back twice, and I'm now being told that its the design of the floating calipers/disks causing it and that there is nothing they can do except cleaning them each time I take the car back.

I'm only 19, so they cant insure me on their courtesy cars and taking the car back repeatedly is starting to cost me a decent amount for the temporary insurance required. I've changed brake disks and pads with the help of my dad, so I'm thinking about having a look myself to try and save the hassle of returning to the dealers constantly.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to resolve this? I'd imagine its an issue with the pad not seating correctly in the caliper, but cleaning it out the way the dealer is doing is not a permanent fix.

Any advice welcome, cheers

Aggymon

1,962 posts

177 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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It's under warranty, so keep taking it back until they fix it.

Take it in on Saturday mornings so you don't have to use a courtesy car and can wait for it ? It really shouldn't take more than 30 - 45 minutes (including a road test) to rectify.

If they are saying it is a design flaw, get them to take you out in another car and demonstrate that it does exactly the same thing (it won't).

It probably just needs a new set of the little shim/clips that sit in the pad carriers and stop the pads rattling around. These tend to come with the pads if you order them from the dealer (and in the better aftermarket pad sets), you can probably order them separately from the dealer too smile

ETA; Euros sell the pad fitting kit under 107110328 (put your reg number in to double check but it gives you an idea of what I am talking about!)



Edited by Aggymon on Monday 18th September 14:35

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
Aggymon said:
It's under warranty, so keep taking it back until they fix it.

Take it in on Saturday mornings so you don't have to use a courtesy car and can wait for it ? It really shouldn't take more than 30 - 45 minutes (including a road test) to rectify.

If they are saying it is a design flaw, get them to take you out in another car and demonstrate that it does exactly the same thing (it won't).

It probably just needs a new set of the little shim/clips that sit in the pad carriers and stop the pads rattling around. These tend to come with the pads if you order them from the dealer (and in the better aftermarket pad sets), you can probably order them separately from the dealer too smile

Good shout, I'll give them a phone later today and let them I know I plan to take it in on Saturday.

The first time I took the car in they insisted I left it there, something about needing approval from Mini UK for warranty work which takes time.

Definitely work a shot though, cheers.

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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How are you hearing this? With the windows down or up?

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
227bhp said:
How are you hearing this? With the windows down or up?
Windows up, does that point to it being something else?

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Monday 18th September 2017
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Hammy98 said:
227bhp said:
How are you hearing this? With the windows down or up?
Windows up, does that point to it being something else?
It does sound a bit suspicious. Whilst the advice about it being under warranty and not doing much with it while it is are sound, I would be taking a wheel off and have a bit of a poke around myself or taking it to a friendly independent.
It's by no means conclusive, but if you touch he brakes as it's making this noise does it stop?

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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227bhp said:
It does sound a bit suspicious. Whilst the advice about it being under warranty and not doing much with it while it is are sound, I would be taking a wheel off and have a bit of a poke around myself or taking it to a friendly independent.
It's by no means conclusive, but if you touch he brakes as it's making this noise does it stop?
I'll try to get the wheel off before booking into the dealer again to have a look around. The first time the dealer had the car in for this, they replaced the steering rack, then after doing so and the noise was still there then they went ahead with the 'brake clean'. The noise completely disappears when the brakes are applied even slightly.

I thought the noise could be a worn bushing that silenced with the weight transfer when braking, but the fact that the noise is apparent at all speeds and can be stopped with the slightest of braking was making me think otherwise.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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I had this with a Focus after a garage fitted a cheap set of brake pads during a service. I fitted a set of Brembo pads myself, problem solved in 20 mins. I'd be checking with the dealer what pads they have fitted and maybe suggest they try a different / better make.

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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Grahamdub said:
I had this with a Focus after a garage fitted a cheap set of brake pads during a service. I fitted a set of Brembo pads myself, problem solved in 20 mins. I'd be checking with the dealer what pads they have fitted and maybe suggest they try a different / better make.
I will do mate, I assume they will be the standard pads as the car only had 6k on it when I picked it up but I'll check with them in case.

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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My dad is a mechanic so I took him out in it last night, he listened for the noise inside and outside the car and took the wheels off for a look. He said all looked okay, and nothing seemed loose so I think its going to be a case of hassling the dealer until its sorted.

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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I wonder how many people are thinking the same as me, but not saying anything either.

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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227bhp said:
I wonder how many people are thinking the same as me, but not saying anything either.
I'm interested...

Edited to add that if its referring to asking on here when my dads a mechanic, he's been reluctant to help me resolve it and says I should just take it to the dealer until its sorted

Just wanted some ideas for what the issue is likely to be, then when I take the car back I can list off possible things for them to look at since they want to clean the brakes repeatedly...

Edited by Hammy98 on Wednesday 20th September 16:07

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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Hammy98 said:
227bhp said:
I wonder how many people are thinking the same as me, but not saying anything either.
I'm interested...
You aren't painting your father in a particularly good light considering you say he's a mechanic.

A.You ask a bunch of DIYers for advice instead of him.
B. He can't see what's wrong with it regardless anyway.

Were the pads loose enough to rattle anyhow? I'm doubtful.

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
227bhp said:
You aren't painting your father in a particularly good light considering you say he's a mechanic.

A.You ask a bunch of DIYers for advice instead of him.
B. He can't see what's wrong with it regardless anyway.

Were the pads loose enough to rattle anyhow? I'm doubtful.
He's never touched a mini before never mind tearing the front brakes down looking for a rattle, much greater chance of someone on here having had a similar issue before such as Grahamdub who suggested that it might just be shoddy pads that are fitted as he'd had the same problem.

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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Hammy98 said:
He's never touched a mini before never mind tearing the front brakes down looking for a rattle, much greater chance of someone on here having had a similar issue before such as Grahamdub who suggested that it might just be shoddy pads that are fitted as he'd had the same problem.
Taking the wheel off and having a poke around in the caliper would have shown you if this was the case or not, no?

Pads loose = problem

Pads not loose = no problem

What did you do, just stare at it, scratch your arses, take deep intake of breath and pronounce it 'Dealer only mate'?

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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227bhp said:
Taking the wheel off and having a poke around in the caliper would have shown you if this was the case or not, no?

Pads loose = problem

Pads not loose = no problem

What did you do, just stare at it, scratch your arses, take deep intake of breath and pronounce it 'Dealer only mate'?
Yes. In that order. rolleyes




We took it for a drive, came back and removed the wheels, checked the torque on the callipers, checked the pads and clips as someone else had mentioned, Tapped the bottom of the calliper with a covered mallet to see if we could recreate the noise with the wheel off, no luck.

He's not up for stripping the full brake assembly to find a noise that the dealer should be able to sort, I was only on here looking for recommendations from people that had similar issues so that I have some ammunition when I go back to the dealers. It means I can say, " Can you check... as I think it might be that" etc.

As of right now they are more than likely going to keep giving it a 'brake clean' unless I tell them otherwise, problem being I don't know what the issue is likely to be. They should be able to work this out for themselves since its their job, but apparently not.

Martin350

3,775 posts

194 months

Friday 22nd September 2017
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Are you absolutely sure the noise is coming from the front?
Noises can be deceiving when your in a metal box which can transmit noise and vibration quite effectively.

The rear pads on some Minis I've seen have retaining clips that make them potentially quite easy to fit incorrectly.

Have you greased (preferably with proper brake grease *) the pad backing plates where they contact the caliper / carrier?

Hammy98

Original Poster:

793 posts

91 months

Wednesday 4th October 2017
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Martin350 said:
Are you absolutely sure the noise is coming from the front?
Noises can be deceiving when your in a metal box which can transmit noise and vibration quite effectively.

The rear pads on some Minis I've seen have retaining clips that make them potentially quite easy to fit incorrectly.

Have you greased (preferably with proper brake grease *) the pad backing plates where they contact the caliper / carrier?

Hadn't checked this thread for more replies! Fairly sure its coming from the front, I had it back in the dealers on Saturday and they were next to useless yet again. Gave all brakes an 'Inspection and thorough clean' over the past few days its been developing a bit of vibration through the brake pedal when braking moderately. I'm now considering ordering new pads from Lohen along with their fitting kit.

227bhp

10,203 posts

127 months

Wednesday 4th October 2017
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Buckled discs?