I have a very alarming scraping coming from the right front wheel of my car. I have recently installed new rotors, calipers, and pads so I assumed it was a case of the calipers not retracting. However, I need some sage advice on diagnosing this since I have another suspicion that affects my approach to getting home tonight from work.

If it were the caliper failing to pull the pad back from the rotor, wouldn't the noise change, even slightly, when I apply the brakes? Wouldn't it mute a bit or go away completely?

It is not the dust shield. I have checked that, actually a couple of times.

My fear is it's the wheel bearing. It is a grinding sound that increases with speed. It will sometimes go away, usually at higher speeds. However, it is pretty consistent at lower speeds. Now it has started a more high pitch sound as well.

What do you think? Is my wheel going to fly off on the drive home? Is there a gremlin tearing apart the wing?

UPDATE: a mechanic has told me that the caliper might have a bracket that doesn't match the vehicle. Apparently he has seen this before with rebuilt calipers.

-JSBB
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The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. —Bertrand Russell