High pitch squeek/squel but not brakes

Hi

I have a 24 plate estate 1.5 dsg and for a while had a fairly loud high pitch noise at the front similar to brake warning but it doesn't happen when braking. I'm trying to pinpoint but seems to happen when letting off accelerator or just crusing along I can't really hear on motorway but driving around town etc it's pretty annoying and now I know it's happening I can't ignore it

I thought it was the brakes so bought new ones (only just hit 7k miles) but when I took wheels off brake pads were like new thickness so didn't bother

I'm no mechanic so don't want to guess but is any common things that could cause it

Also a tinny rattle sound near passenger side sounds like maybe heatshield but that's another day's problem

Cheers