The Nissan Path

When I drive in reverse I'm getting a squeaking noise. It increases in frequency as I speed up so I'm thinking it's something related to the drivetrain. I don't get the noise when in neutral and coasting backward nor do I hear it in driving forward. Here's a video of the noise. Any ideas? https://youtu.be/xO-QVsEsPgo

It sounds like the warning squealers on the brake pads are touching the rotors to me. Check your brakes!

It is about time for new pads but I don't think that is the cause. When coasting in neutral it stops which wouldn't happen if it were the squealers, correct?

I did look underneath while having my wife drive yesterday and it sounds like it might be coming from the drive shaft. I'll see if I can get a video today.

Well, when coasting in neutral, the warning squealers may not be touching the rotor surface, so they wouldn't squeak. If the sound it from the driveshaft, then a bad U-joint is a strong possibility.

Here's a better video. https://youtu.be/TWFhRNNQmmk

You hear the squeak stop as soon as the tranny is put in neutral. Seems like that should indicate something right? What stops rotating in neutral but not reverse?

That sounds more like a U-joint. It's hard to really say from just a video. While it still turns in neutral (coasting), there is no load on the joint like there is in reverse.

Thanks for the help smj, always appreciate you sharing your input.

Is there a way to verify if it is the U-joint without taking too many things apart? I'm planning to give the Path to a family at our church and this just started happening. I'm trying to figure out if this is a minor annoyance that can be left alone for a while or if it needs to be addressed sooner than later.

You could check for physical play in the U-joint by grabbing the driveshaft and yoke and moving it back and forth and up and down.

Great job on getting that video

Definitelly U-joint. I remember that sound from my case, it was rear driveshaft u-joint.