The new carrier is an eBay job. I replaced the other side a year or so ago due to a stripped thread, from same manufacturer and that was fine. Yes, the old carrier had the gaps too. The new one has made literally no difference. And given that the Pagid and Bosch pads both made the noise (presuming this is actually brake pad noise- I know it's impossible to diagnose without hearing!!) I'd kind of discounted it being the pads themselves. The noise started when the Pagids were like 2/3 worn, and remained unchanged with the Bosch. I'm confused