this is my first 4wd truck so forgive me if i seem a little stupid here but
especially on a hard stop i hear what sounds like grinding in the front of the truck.. almost like the brake pads are worn and need replacing when youre at the rivets... it doesnt do it all the time sometimes on a soft stop too and when the rotors are warm or cold but not all the time...
I pulled the wheels and the brakes have about half their life left...the rotors are good with no grooves and appear thick enough the pads are semi metallic. is this the problem or should i be inspecting other parts of the front end?

 

Well I just had a similar problem, pulled my wheels off and the pads looked like they were only half worn, still I replaced them and the rotors (I could tell they were slightly warped) and all the braking noises are gone

 

I think I know what you are talking about. Mine does it when I brake slowly downhill. I have no clue why it does it either. So...yeah sorry I cant help ya.

 

thanks for the replies.. i do have another set of pads ill prlly replace them and have the rotors checked

 

same problem here, different vehicle.. on a 2005 Grand prix... Not soo much a grinding noise.. but some kind of noise and a grinding/ jerking feel... turns out its the ABS.. Just a thought.. no idea if thats what it is or not but maybe it will point you in the right direction

 

Factory pads are high in metallic concentration. You could have just worn down to a metallic spot on the pads.