Front disc brake questions, pad loose, missing lug nut

[fordsucks!]

I sometimes hear a clicking sound from the front, which goes silent when the brakes are applied. Sounds like a loose pad to me, you guys see anything unusual in the picture? Looks like the pad backing is coming off in two layers, is that okay?



Also, the little clip up at the top of the pad, is that supposed to be bent down against the caliper? Like what channel locks? Or does everything look okay?

Lastly, I broke off one of the damn wheel studs. It looks like I have to take off at minimum, the freewheeling Hub just to get to that... does the brake rotor have to come off as well?

Safe to drive around with 5 out of 6 lug nuts until I tackle this project?

 

[nvrenuf]

Metal shim plates (I see some on the pad) and/or “disc brake quiet” paste like products are available to prevent pad noise.

As far as driving with the broken stud, that can boil down to an opinion. Perfect? No. How “dangerous” it is would really relate to the tire size. If normal size (33 ? and smaller) I’d say you’re ok but if you’re running a big tire (37+) I’d fix it soon.

The rotor assembly will need to come off to replace the stud.

 

[diesel4me]

I once drove a '76 K5 2wd a friend had 5 miles on just 2 full length wheel studs and a third one that was broken off short so the nut only had about 3/4 of its threads in the nut..they were all in a row too,it would have been better if they were in a triangle pattern..

His wife usually drove the truck--one day the lugs on the drivers side front all came loose ,someone was probably going to steal her rims & tires but got interrupted..(truck had the factory white spoked wheels)..she had to drive it about 1/2 a mile before she had a safe spot to pull over,by then two studs snapped off flush with the rim and the third one had a slot "sawed" into it by the rim and was weakened badly..
My friend took his wife home and I followed them in her truck,at 20 mph or less,and I did my best not to hit any potholes!..the rim was ruined,the lug holes were more like slots almost 1/2 long past the original lug hole..we had to put the spare tire on with only those 2-1/2 studs..

Given a choice I'd rather have a 4x4 front end with missing or busted studs that a 2wd..at least a 4x4 has the longer hub pilot and the lugs only hold the rim to the rotor,not so much support all the weight of the truck...the 2wd only has like a 1/2" pilot on the rotor and the rim would come completely off faster ,a 4wd hub sticking out several inches would likely let the tire flop over and hopefully not come completely off,give you more time to panic stop..

That picture of the pad,are you sure the "second layer" isn't just a sticky back metal shim they give with the pads for anti-squeal purposes ?...those can rust up and look weird and let the pads move around if the other anti-rattle clips aren't there or firmly attached..
I see a lot of pebbles getting stuck in the rotor's slots or in the tin backing plate shield make some bad sounding noises at my friends shop lately too..lots of road work going on around here..

 

[fordsucks!]

if normal size (33 ? and smaller) I’d say you’re ok

The rotor assembly will need to come off to replace the stud.

Thanks dude. 31 so I'll just roll on them for a little bit. I'll probably do the brake job sometime this year.

That picture of the pad,are you sure the "second layer" isn't just a sticky back metal shim they give with the pads for anti-squeal purposes ?...those can rust up and look weird and let the pads move around if the other anti-rattle clips aren't there or firmly attached..
I see a lot of pebbles getting stuck in the rotor's slots or in the tin backing plate shield make some bad sounding noises

After you said this, I took a look and the inboard pads which also have separating shims, and there is a large Pebble stuck in one of them.

the pads are 20 years old but don't have very much mileage on them, as the truck sat for a long time. Everything is Rusted up.