The Nissan Path

So around 80k I started having a squeak problem when slowly accelerating from a stop. The sound has gotten a little louder lately so I had wife slowly accelerate from a stop with me next to the car looking under.

What I see is once the driveshaft starts turning it sounds like the sound is coming from the front u-joint.

I got under just now and it visually looks like there might be a leak from where the u-joint connects to the differential case (?) in front. Is that the culprit of the sound? Please help asap, wife drives the Pathfinder to work.

Thanks for any help.
Jeff

MrEous wrote:So around 80k I started having a squeak problem when slowly accelerating from a stop. The sound has gotten a little louder lately so I had wife slowly accelerate from a stop with me next to the car looking under.

What I see is once the driveshaft starts turning it sounds like the sound is coming from the front u-joint.

I got under just now and it visually looks like there might be a leak from where the u-joint connects to the differential case (?) in front. Is that the culprit of the sound? Please help asap, wife drives the Pathfinder to work.

Thanks for any help.
Jeff

welcome to the forum
if a u-joint is worn enough, it will wobble as it turns, which may be causing leakage at the seal
worn u-joints are not uncommon

Any way I could tell its the u-joint visually or do I need to take it apart?

...and thank you for the welcome.

MrEous wrote:Any way I could tell its the u-joint visually or do I need to take it apart?

...and thank you for the welcome.

depends on how worn it is..........
if very worn, they will usually have detectable play in them
sometimes external lubrication (WD-40 or equivalent) sprayed on it will change or eliminate the noise temporarily & can be helpful to diagnose
if you have both leakage at the input shaft seal and noise, then you probably need new u-joints (if so, replace both)
at your mileage, it wouldn't surprise me
use the forum "search" feature for more related info on the subject

If its seized, it won't have any play but will still be bad... Drop the driveshaft down and see if it moves smoothly in all directions.

t

I need to identify the parts for this before I get under there.

Could you please let me know if I have it labeled correctly?


(click for larger pic)

Forgive my noob but it's confusing when I've known the center shaft as a 'drive shaft' and FSM labels it a 'propeller shaft'...along with the wheels being driven by individual drive shafts. Unless it's a Courtesy Parts thing?

MrEous wrote:I need to identify the parts for this before I get under there.

Could you please let me know if I have it labeled correctly?


(click for larger pic)

Forgive my noob but it's confusing when I've known the center shaft as a 'drive shaft' and FSM labels it a 'propeller shaft'...along with the wheels being driven by individual drive shafts. Unless it's a Courtesy Parts thing?

2WD or 4WD?

It's an '08 2wd...

Btw, sprayed some PB Blaster on that linkage and a little inside the casing an creak went away. Now today there is a slight 'clunk' when putting into Drive.

MrEous wrote:It's an '08 2wd...

Btw, sprayed some PB Blaster on that linkage and a little inside the casing an creak went away. Now today there is a slight 'clunk' when putting into Drive.

good diagnostics......
"the leak" appears to be rust & residue fron the failing front u-joint
be sure to replace both front & rear u-joints
also be sure that the driveshaft gets re-installed in the same position in relation to the output shaft yoke and the rear differential yoke

Awesome just what I wanted to hear.

Regarding the part names (or Nissan part #s??)...do you have advice when I call?

MrEous wrote:Awesome just what I wanted to hear.

Regarding the part names (or Nissan part #s??)...do you have advice when I call?

have your chosen repair shop verify the problem
they should know what repair parts are necessary
sounds like u-joints to me, but be sure to have verified and estimated before authorizing any repair
if it were mine, i would also have the driveshaft balance checked & adjusted before re-installing it

I'm actually doing this myself with another competant shadetree mechanic...kind of why I needed the part numbers.

I'm 99% sure it's the ujoint as well and at this (mile)age they'll need replacing anyway. If it doesn't fix it then I still have piece of mind.

Well if anyone needs it, the part # for my 2008 2WD Pathfinder u-joint at Courtesy Parts.

Part #/SKU 37126-R51003
Part Name [37125KA] DRIVESHAFT U-JOINT
aka Journal Kit

Thanks everyone for your help!
-Jeff

Let us know how the repair goes, and make sure to bring your BFH!

t

Lol will do...BFH in hand.