What's odd is in the photos. The side with the copper grease (plastered on by this garage...) Is the noisy side. Note how compared to the dry, good side, the pads don't seem to be held into the carrier very tight. But given that I've swapped carrier, guides, sleeves and pads, and fitted brand new anti rattle springs, what could cause that clearance??? Alternatively, it's normal and I'm looking in the wrong place for the noise!!
brake1.jpg
brake2.jpg
I'm thinking that the noise is the pads able to rattle in the carrier, given that the noise disappears the second the brakes are touched and comes straight back on releasing them. There's no clunk type noise on applying brakes, like when pads can move slightly up and down.
It's worth noting that the pads I fitted this time are Bosch, replacing Pagid ones last time and both had this noise issue. The new pads made no difference to the noise.
I'd originally posted over on VWVortex, where a suggestion of top suspension mount was made. I'm now unable to reply to those guys, as my account has stopped working an no reply for their forum admin yet, which is a shame as they were very helpful!! Apparently the strut top mount can wear and allow the damper rod to rattle about in the top of the mount. I took the leg off the car (didn't have my spring compressors to hand, so couldn't remove the mount) but it all appeared very tight, no play at all, no fretting marks or anything of that nature. So wonder if that's a non-starter, unless the play could be so great as to cause the loud noise, but undetectable with the leg in my hands?!
strut1.jpg
strut2.jpg
If anyone has any pointers, that'd be great. The car is my Dad's, and he's thinking of getting rid (probably scrap!) because of this issue. I've looked after the car for years and years, and I don't want to see it die!
Thanks!!