'98 Nissan Pathfinder - Weird Noise from Left front wheel.

[cartoon_pat]

I have a very weird noise coming from the left front wheel. It only happens when the wheel is spinning. When it first happened it was constant. Then I came home right away and left for an hour then tried it again and then became intermittent. It's not the usual click click from a CV axle, or the whomping sound from a bearing. It's almost like a rock or something stuck somewhere but I can't see anything. Any ideas?

[zia-czon]

Just happened to stumble across this post. IF your noise does not go away or change when braking then you more than likely have a problem with the front hub dust seal rubbing on the Hub itself. Refer to TSBNTB97014.

• "If a 1996-98 Pathfinder vehicle exhibits a high pitch squeal or whistle from the front hub/brake area, the cause may be the front hub dust seal. This noise can be heard while driving next to a wall where the sound is reflected. The noise is also more likely to be heard after several miles with the front wheels at normal operating temperature. A countermeasure front hub baffle plate is available to resolve these incidents. The countermeasure baffle plates are modified to also function as dust seals."
• It only applies to Pathfinders built before september 1997, which your 1998 may still apply, check the manufacturer date.

[specialT]

I have a '97 Pathfinder that had an intermittent screeching noise coming from the right front wheel. The local dealer replaced the baffle plate and that solved the problem.