Front pads don't snap onto the pistons like the rears do.

Over the years I've had brakes squeak a bit from time to time. By the time I get around to look at them the squeak has gone away. I chalk it up to a bit of road grit in there or some other foreign object.

 

Case CLOSED, Part Deux....

This lovely, late Summer morning I got out all my tools, jacks, stands, Harbor Freight caliper piston pusher tool, et cetera prepared for hours of work - (after a sleepless night thinking of the possibilities).

I started at the back. Jacked up the left rear. Gave the wheel a spin by hand. Virtually no sound... Moved over to the right rear; jacked her up, spun the wheel, same good silence and smooth rotation. Both inboard pads visually appeared seated on the piston whithout taking the caliper apart.

Moved to the front left, jacked her up, spun the wheel. Whalla!! Popped off the wheel for a better look. Spun the rotor. Aha! Source of noise: The dust cover/heat shield(?) was slightly rubbing against the rotor edge. A very annoying sound! It's thin and flexible so I just nudged it towards the center of the car away from the rotor, maybe 1/4 of an inch, spun the rotor and SILENCE. The rears do not have this piece of metal. The right front was quiet but I pulled the wheel and checked it anyhoo.

For the most part the sound was nonexistant - so far as I could tell - so my guess is something either popped off the road and knocked this shield in to the rotor OR, with heat expansion, maybe the rotor and shield made contact to produce this very shrill sound.

I'll go for a ride later and probably sleep better tonight. :-)