Nissan Repair: Strange Grinding Noise from front wheels, nissan sentra, inner pad

Question
Hello Von, I drive a 2000 Nissan Sentra GXE.  I have had little to no problems with my car to this point.  Over the past 4-6 months there has been a noise coming from my wheels.  Initially the noise was only heard when reversing out of a parking spot while cranking the wheel one way or the other.  Recently this noise has started to be heard more frequently, now it is heard from time to time while driving straight ahead.  The best way I can describe the noise is someone taking an empty coffee can and in a circular motion scraping the inside with a fork or other metal object.  It is the worst while in reverse backing out of a spot.  I am really sceptical about taking it somewhere because the problem sounds so unusual that if I took it in someone could tell me just about anything and I'd believe it.

Thank you. Tyler

Answer
Tyler,

It sounds like the brake pad wear indicators are starting to contact the rotor and this is what is making the noise.  You can jack up your car and block the wheels and support the car with jackstands and then take off the front wheel and inspect the brake pads.  The inner pad will have the wear clip on it and if the pads are worn down enough it will contact the rotor and that is what is making the noise.  Now, the pads could be worn down and the clip not touching and still make the noise.  I love factory Nissan pads since they are low dust and low noise.  If you are after an agressive pad that works well there are Performacne Friction Carbon Metallics that Autozone carries.  These pads are great but they put off alot of dust.