Don't panic Andycapp, it's more than likely it a small stone trapped between your pads and the disc.<div abp="1087">There is in the "How To" section, it tells you how to remove your pads, it shows you in pictures step by step

. There are other posts about what make of pads and disc's to fit.
<div abp="1087">You have to remove the pads to get the stone out, while your doing that, might be a good time to replace the pads or disc's

. (Euro Motor Parts)

 

Could it not be that the pads are that thin that it is "grinding" on the rivets. Had one like that a lot of years ago. Come to think of it, do modern brake pads even have rivets?

 

If its grinding when not braking it wont be the pads being low.
I would check what Silverhairs said first before looking any deeper

 

wheel off and have a look ?? low pads, sticking calliper or even a bent backing plate

 

Are you nuts.

Look sooner, rather than the weekend, It'll take you 10 minutes to get the wheel off and back on. You could be doing more damage, and also be a hazard on the road IF the brakes fail, if that's what it is.

Get the wheels off and be done, and stop fannying about.

 

Grinding and whining is rotational, creaks and bangs is suspension/bushes

 

Here's the best picture of the FR pad, looks to be OK to me. I was reluctant to take the wheel off as a 10 min job never is 10 mins, however I thought I'd give it a go. The damn wheel wouldn't come off, so I'll have to try again later and give it a good kick from the backside. The grinding noise is still there taking the foot off the brake but it's not as bad. I'm hoping it is a stone as it's the most simple fix. Any other thoughts appreciated.

 

are the disks lipped ? they do look a bit scored but it hard to tell<div abp="1587">
<div abp="1588">alloys sticking is acommon issue - a forum search will give you the anwser

 

If that's a lip on your disc, do yourself a big favour,you need to change both the disc's and the pads

 

Cheers, thanks for the advice,

 

Looks like the inside pad was a little sticky, it was hard to get the pad out to look at it in detail. From what I've seen the pads should slide freely between the carrier plates, but the inside one was very hard to pry out. Once out the pad was worn to the backing plate, and as such the inside disc is more worn, so gonna replace all pads and discs and give stuff a good clean.
The torx screw is stuck, so I may just replace the pads for the time being until I can get the torx screw out. Can I get a replacement if have to drill it out? And is replacing the pads for a few days wise? I don't drive far and need my car daily.

 

If the pads have worn unevenly as you said the pad on the inside is down to the metal it could point to a sticking calliper<div abp="1173">
<div abp="1171">You may need a impact tool to get the torx bolt out- its a standard torx bolt - when you put it back in a dab of copperslip or anti-seize helps wonders
<div abp="1171">
<div abp="1171">If the disk's are shot all your going to do is kill the newpads very quickly - new pads and disk's and sort that calliper out
<div abp="1172">

 

Thanks very much, I'm gonna replace the discs and pads. I'm hoping when I clean it up the new pads will slide smoothing in the carrier plates.

 

Thanks very much, I'm gonna replace the discs and pads. I'm hoping when I clean it up the new pads will slide smoothing in the carrier plates.

I replaced mine with Brembo discs and pads a few months ago, there is a thread somewhere on here, I put up
Got them from eurocarparts, the kit includes all bolts required for the pad carriers and the little torx bolt for the disc. Discs were £25 a pair, pads were £23 a set. Not the cheapest pads, but I'm finding the feel is 100% progressive to the foot.

Give the whole assembly a good wire brushing and good clean. Even on my 5 year old Note, there was a lot of rusty crud.

 

Replaced the discs and pads today, had to drill out the rotor torx screw, a royal pain! Anyway once the old discs were off it was pretty straight forward in the end. Actually the new pads were a little stiff fitting into the top and bottom plates, so I filed a little off the arms and they went in fine. Thanks for everyone's help and advice.
No more grinding noise obviously!!! However when I press the brake pedal I get a very slight "whoosh" type noise, any thoughts? I don't think it's anything major (fingers crossed).

 

Not sure what a whoosh sound is, but bed the pads in gently at first, no really aggressive braking for a good few miles.The whoosh sound, may be just the pads bedding in on the discs. Did you clean off the new discs with brake cleaner.?

 

Brake cleaner?!? No I didn't!! I've gently bedded them in and they work a treat, the whoosh sound is inside I think yje pedal may need a bit of oil, sounds more like a squeaky whoosh noise?!? I don't think it's serious, I'll check the brake fluid level to make sure I'm not pi$$ing brake fluid everywhere!!

 

Brake cleaner?!? No I didn't!! I've gently bedded them in and they work a treat, the whoosh sound is inside I think yje pedal may need a bit of oil, sounds more like a squeaky whoosh noise?!? I don't think it's serious, I'll check the brake fluid level to make sure I'm not pi$$ing brake fluid everywhere!!

Brake discs are usually covered in oil to stop rusting in storage, and it should be cleaned off with brake cleaner before fitting. Too late now I think.

You should have checked the brake fluid level after fitting.......before you drove the thing.

Check the brake fluid for overfill or spillage, as fitting new brakes and pads will fill the reservoir up, from pushing back the caliper pots(pistons).

 

If it is a Psssssssh! noise that you hear with the engine off, it is the brake servo.

After half a dozen presses (with engine off) it will stop as the vacuum is used up (if that is the right way to describe it) and the pedal goes hard.

 

The brake fluid level was fine when I fitted the brakes. Didn't think about cleaner for the discs!! Too late now and they're fine after running them in for 30 miles so far!!!
The pssssssh noise is happening when the car is running!! I'm sure (hoping) it's nithing really, I'll try it with the engine off and see what it could be.

 

In the morning, when it's been damp overnight, a light rusting builds up on the disc's, and when I brake for the first time I get a slight "psssssshing" noise till the rust has been rubbed off. Mind you, it could be a "grrrrrruuuufing" noise

.