I've had a brake replacement last less than 10,000 miles. The caliper froze and wore the pad right down to the metal very quickly, and quietly until it hit the metal.

      From: Vincent Dow <ianvincentdow@GMAIL.COM>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
 Sent: Monday, April 3, 2017 7:54 PM
 Subject: Screech, said the front wheel
   
Hi friends, just about halfway across the USA in my 1982 subaru-vanagon.

something always comes up on a 3000 mile drive!
 this evening, pulling into a state park campground in Toronto, KS; I
released the brake pedal to let the van roll back onto the road, and the
right front wheel made a squeak\screech as it rolled.

braking was solid and fine :) But I didn't like that sound (so far from
home and from vanagon land)
Just before the last light of day disappeared, I crawled under and had a
look at that wheel.  Nothing stood out. My brakes were redone two Years
ago, and I've only put about 10,000 miles on since (almost all highway)

The screech continued as I rolled into my campsite. Not loud. Sounds like a
brake down to metal would sound, rubbing against a rotor at low speed. You
kind of hear the revolution.

I did see a very mashed bushing... like, wasted. dont know what that
bushing is called, but its the one closest to the wheel, almost touches it.

does this ring a bell for anyone? I'll he crossing the rockies day after
tomorrow, and then on to Los Angeles. I'd like to feel confident doing so.
Tomorrow, might try to get a local garage to put it on the lift, take the
wheel off.

Could it be that crushed bushing? Maybe suddenly got worse and moved things
around so that something like the metal shield between wheel and
suspension?

Any advice greatly appreciated!
Vin