Scraping in my brakes

[Dragonheart]

I dont know if many of you heard at the meet but there was a scraping coming from my front left wheel when driving. Its gotten worse and I decided to take the wheel off to get to the bottom of it thinking it might be a stone or dust lodged between the disc and caliper. Couldnt find anything, but then noticed that there is a metal clip at the top of the caliper, shown in the blue circle in the photo here;

When I pressed this down and turned the disc the scraping stopped. Its obviuosly after throwing itself slightly out of line or something. But its at the back of the disc its rubbing cause there is no scouring on th front face and a slight bit on the back.
My question is what is this clip for? I dont want to go cutting it off in case its vital but all I can see is that its seperating the caliper from the pad? Any insight anyone?
Thanks.

[CJ]

Brake pad retaining clips, you can get them off Camskill for a couple of pound. I've replaced these in the past to cure break noise \ squeal.

CJ

[steelroe]

or you could just bend the old ones, usually works.

[Dragonheart]

Thanks lads.
I thought that they were something like that all right.
Tried bending the old ones but it seems to just bounce back to the old spot. Its ok for a few turns but then just squeaks again, at least I know its not a major thing and can be pretty easily fixed.
Cheers.

[steelroe]

You cnat bend it on the caliper. It has to be removed and then bent back.

[Dragonheart]

Damn, so either way I'm removing a caliper. If I'm taking it off I might as well replace the clip so. Dont fancy take them off though cause of the bolts and the risk of shearing. Has to be done I suppose though.

[steelroe]

You dont need to remove the caliper. Just the bottom bolt and swing the cylinder housing up. Take out pads and remove the clips.
20 minute job.