Brake maintenance

Hi,

Small question on SD 2011 and brake maintenance. Under heavy braking and just before the stop it makes a howling sound. For me it seems it doesn't come from the front tyre but somewhere else in the front. Also, the brakes are whining in a slow stop. However there's no pulsating feeling or mushy brake lever feeling meaning rotors should be straight and no air in the system but something else is causing the sound.

So questions are:
1. In order to check the pads, can you take them off without removing front wheel or the caliper? As it seems, the stupid pin is on the inside of the caliper, pointing to the wheel so there's very little room to pull it out.
2. If I manage to pull them out, should light sandpaper and brake cleaner do the trick?
3. And should some copper crease or similar be added for the backplates and the pin?
4. Any other ideas for the howling part, for me it seems it started after front wheel change so could there be any alignment issues and if so, how to know and fix one? Bike goes straight if I let go of the handlebar and under braking it does go smoothly forward.
5. Am I just over sensitive and noises are fine if everything is working normally?

P.S. anyone else succeeded on breaking one of the right fairing bolts when adding oil? Stupid aluminium.

I found the front brakes to be slightly noisy compared to other bikes, seems normal unless excessive.

I find it the easiest to undo the calipers to work on them, but you can get the pads out without taking them off.
If you take them off just don't hang them of the hoses! Use a cable tie or string instead!
Check if floating rivets are loose, they tend to lock up from salt on the roads etc. If so they can create noise and bend the disks.
You should be able to move the disk sideways on the carier.
Replace the brake fluid at least once a year or more if you do track days or live in humid enviroment. Make sure to push the pistons back to get the most out of the calipers so there is fresh fluid in there too.
Check that all the pistons return easily and clean the pistons and lube seals and pistons with the proper brake grease (the red stuff).
Check pads and disks for uneven wear pitting etc. and if needed replace the pads and clean the disks.
Refit and make sure the bolts are assembled as per manual.
If all this is fine and the still sing a bit consider it normal.
I had an RSV with similar brembos and they also made more noise than brakes on jap bikes.