It wasn't my brakes that were the problem....The problem was this peice of metal (which I'm assuming is a heat shield) had its rivits sheared off and was loose, rubbing up against the rotor.

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3812504

As you can see, there isn't any damage to the metal, other than the contact with the rotor:

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3812505

A little closer of the damage to the metal:

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3812506

Can anyone correctly identify this part and more importantly, do I really need it? And if so, any clue on how to re-attach it? There aren't any points to screw it back into, it was definately three rivits...

 

Thats your dust shield...it helps keep dirt and crap off the brake rotor.
Rivet it back on....I thought they were bolted on though.

 

Thanks! It's definately not bolted on, as there isn't anywhere to bolt it to, that I could find. I'm going to rotate my tires this weekend, so I'll double check it.

Thanks again!

 

Did you pull it off or did it kind of fall off?

 

A little of both....It was just kinda swinging in the wind, knocking against the rotor. When I got the wheel off, I tugged on it slightly and out it came! Definately not attached in anyway.

 

Might just be a loose clamp that after driving for so long, just starts falling apart. I agree with 98YELLOWGT, it's the dust gaurd. I just got old and fell off.