Car: 1994 Ef Fairmont i6.
I have been just recently getting a little noise from the wheels on the front end. Tyres all looked to be warn evenly, car seems to be aligned nicely. Had a look at the calipers today and noticed the metal piece that sits on the caliper and the pads arms rest on its gone. I was told this was just an anit rattle bracket, is this the case, is it a worry now to drive and also where apart from the wreckers can I buy them?
Excuse the picture, it was all I could find on the net to show what I mean. The metal piece sits here

lost my one over a year ago...been driving it almost every day with out any issues

Most of my cars have never had them.
Im either still alive or the freshest smelling zombie known to man!

If you are worried about that slide plate, buy a couple of New ones, not that expensive.

Cheers guys.
The sounds like a woof woof sound that is present at around 80km and definitely from the front end, sounds like its coming from the wheels. Its very slight and the exhaust at 100 drowns it out. It may be due to that other post where I said the wheels were balanced and aligned the Ef has heard me and plotted to make a liar out of me... Or it could even be that lately Ive had the stereo right down almost listening for sounds and its normal but I have not heard it before. At 80 the car's almost idling in 4th, so I would say thats going to be when I am going to hear things. Ill still get it in for a balance and alignment once the move happens this Thursday.

i have heard

The reason the plate is there

Is to stop wear on the cast stub axle setup call it whatever and to balance the "pads"

i call BS but i do agree with it will prevent "wear" on car parts and wear out the plate instead

but i have had all my cars with out them expect my EA now what ever comes out goes back in

Those plates go in one way, and they are there for the smoothness of operation for the pads to glide on as they wear, and not to wear grooves into the stub axle assembly.
When the AU 1 came out, those plates had a thin rubber layer under them to help stop brake noise.
I use Grey Maxx or Copper Maxx on those plates to do the same thing, just a thin smear is all that is needed.

^^^^

exactly what he said

But a few weeks will be fine with out them