Front wheel bearings or what ?

'99 1.8 petrol 5 door , 75 K miles.

Took my wifes Freelander out for a drive today and noticed a grating noise from what seems to be the NS front . Bit like the pad constantly rubbing on the disc but it isn't that as when brakes are applied I can here them.
Tried coasting with engine off and it was still there .Haven't jacked it up and tried the bearing but it passed it's NCT ( MOT ) test only two weeks ago and it would have been picked up then if rough .
Too cold today to get it jacked up and inspected but if it is milder tomorrow I'll get on it.
I've did a search and way back in 2004 there was a thread which listed a similer problem but no definative answer was posted .
I doubt if the originator of the thread still is on site as he was a guest then!
Are front wheel bearings prone to wear .
How do I check the IRD unit as this was suggested on that thread. Also would a failing CV give a noise as described if worn ?
The noise seems to be less when the wheels are turned if that means anything.
Cheers
Don

Best idea jack it up and have a look, have had a stone trapped between the caliper and disc in the past. Doesn't take long to wreck the disc

I've had grating noises from the front a few times.
Usually a stone it trapped between the brake disc and the brake disc cover, or a pad is rubbing because the spring in the caliper has stuck and not returned the pad away from the disc fully.

Agreed

Likely to be a brake issue,

bearings tend to make a noise in sync with wheel speed, more noticable in cornering.

best to inspect with the wheel off

probably crap around the circumference of the disc

Problem is two deep scores on FNS disc probably caused by gravel trapped between caliper and disc .This has caused the pad to wear down into the scores resulting in two raised ribs on the pad rubbing into the disc continually.
Solid discs and pads are cheap enough so I'll replace both, although they're only 10K miles old , I'll replace fluid at same time and clean and lub caliper pistons too.
Relieved it only that .........
Thanks for your help Lads
Don

Thought I'd complete this thread by explaining what I found.
After waiting for three weeks for a caliper overhaul kit I set to work today fitting new discs , pads and overhauling the calipers to get rid of the grating noise on the car.
When I had the calipers off and turned the hub there was no grating noise so I went ahead and did it all.
Put it together and as soon as I went to test drive it the bloody noise was still there , still comming from the front ns or maybe passenger footwell.
I whipped the undertray off and put the car on 4 axle stands and then put into 1st and drove it . Could here it but couldn't pinpoint it . Checked the oil in both the IRD and gearbox and all was well.
In exasperation took it to a friends garage where we put it on the lift and ran it up to 40 ,knocked it into neutral and switched off the engine.
Noise was immediatly pinpointed to the front bearing at the VCU.
Even the garage owner was convinced it was a FNS wheel bearing .
I'd never have thought the grating noise was comming from prop !
I had marked up the VCU earlier in the day and after doing about 30 miles the marks had hardly moved so I'm suspicious of the VCU .The car has done 72K miles and it seems they are prone to degrade around 70 K miles .
The bearing has to be replaced so the logical short term solution was to remove the prop and convert to 2WD which we did.
I'd read about this on here and was going to try it anyway sometime soon.
The garage owner told me he has done this to several FL's over here and suggested that I try it before going to the expense of a new VCU and bearing set.
I took it for a 15mile drive this evening and quite frankly could hardly tell it was 2WD , even on the very steep drive up to our house it was difficult to tell the difference.
15 mins work to remove prop ............
I'll probably renew the VCU and bearings in time and refit ,certainly for it's next NCT ( MOT ) test but for now we'll stick with Mondo mode .