[Richard Crofts]

OK so I have some very very worn front pads, but they seem to work still and are not grinding....yet!

This morning I noticed that if I brake, even very very gently, and then press the throttle to pull away, again even very gently, then I get a knock from the frontend. It sounds like its on the front right and varies in intensity/loudness/feel through the car. It does not happen if I slow, even to a virtual stand still, with the engine and then accelerate. It only occurs if the brakes are used to slow and then you pull away. If you use the brakes and then allow the car to coast forward again it does not do it but as soon as you use the throttle it knocks, like I said though if you don't use the brakes then it does not do it. Via this I have deduced its something to do with the brakes But why would low pads cause this odd knocking noise??

Any ideas on what it might be? Like I said the front pads are very very very low (a 1-2 mm ish) but they are not squeeling or grinding, although they cant be far off!

Thanks in advance

R

[Capsaisin]

Could be play/backlash in a drive train component, engine mount or even a loose wheel. You will need to go under the car and do some hard pulling to check for anything moving about that shouldn't be. Check wheels, hubs, driveshafts.
Any effects from the pads would probably be more of a click or clack.
To eliminate the brakes, you could try taking your foot of the accelerator in a low gear and then putting it back on again to see if you get the same knock. You need to do this quickly to produce a surge effect, not in a smooth action.

[ButtonIt]

If you "kangaroo" the car in first or second gear (repeatedly accelerate/deaccelerate in quick succesion) and you can hear the clicking then it's the engine mount. I've already had one replaced and it's now doing it again, just a year later

Warranty will fix it common problem. Search on here for more info

[Richard Crofts]

Doesn't do it when you haven't used the brakes.

I was thinking wheel bolts, drive shaft play, bearings, suspension bushes or engine mounts but doing the Kangarroo (one of the first things I tried when I noticed it) does not reproduce it.

It only occurs if you brake then use throttle. If you decelerated in say 1st and then jam the throttle to 'kangaroo' then it does not do it. If you brake suddenly and then release and allow the car to coast (but pick up speed using a downhill slope) then it does not do it either....This is why I am ussming its something related to the brakes.

My only thought is that due to the huge travel the pads/pistons are having to make to meet the disc (which is also quite thin) they are sticking out and then when you accelerate they are popping back away from the disc ?? Sounds silly but its all I have thought it could be.

Didn't find any wheel wobble or suspension play when I fiddled around with it.

[RVW]

Have you checked your wheel bolts? I mean actually put a wrench on them. I had a knocking noise similar to your description and found it to be LOOSE WHEEL BOLTS

[toe44]

Hey did you fix this problem I have the same problem with my Saxo VTR

[V 5ARY]

IT sounds like you have a broken engine mount...£22 easy fix diy...

[Joe1983]

Exact same issue with mine - I've booked it in with MINI for next Wednesday (soonest I could get in) - broken engine mount.

Quick one - will I be OK driving it until then?

[Richard Crofts]

Well...I sorted this....urr kinda

I partook of a fab offer on a set of JCW brakes for only £450 fitted from a friendly MINI garage and a local MINI tech.

Once the new brakes went on this noise vanished, so i guess mine was not the engine mount. I do now however have a different problem now after 50k I can feel a sort of knock and looseness/tap through the steering wheel when accelerating after slowing down...I guess not the mount though and probably play in suspention or steering componants!

Oh....although a bit of a div with some stuff...checking wheel nuts and dragging on bits of the car was the first thing I tried. I have a small rule which is if you have a noise anywhere near that front area check all the bolts immediatly accessible when on the drive before asking questions LOL I dunno people must think i'm an idiot

Cheers for the advice guys but looks like the first problem was an easy cure...tracking this one might take some time sigh!

[Richard Crofts]

Oh and yes you'll be ok as long as you dont thrape it about shunting the engine back and forth too much

[oldmots]

I think you may be right about the piston travel. Just change the pads and see if that ends the problem....you need them anyway, why not?