Driver's Side Front Wheel "Catching" - Drive Axle?

MPK · Nov 30th, 2006, 09:47 PM

After being in storage for nearly a year, I started driving my 2002 4x2 Nissan Frontier XE with MT again. It has suddenly developed an occasional "squeak," which sounds like it's coming from the driver's side front tire. It almost sounds like the wheel stops turning for a split second. It does this every minute or so, mostly at highway speeds.

I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to replace the drive axle, but the last time I looked at the CV boot it looked fine. Any other ideas?

I also need some new tires (the ones I have on the vehicle now look like they haven't aged well). Any ideas? What's OEM tire size? 265 70 15?

jerryp58 · Dec 10th, 2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPK

After being in storage for nearly a year, I started driving my 2002 4x2 Nissan Frontier XE with MT again. It has suddenly developed an occasional "squeak," which sounds like it's coming from the driver's side front tire. It almost sounds like the wheel stops turning for a split second. It does this every minute or so, mostly at highway speeds.

I'm thinking I'm probably going to have to replace the drive axle, but the last time I looked at the CV boot it looked fine. Any other ideas?

I also need some new tires (the ones I have on the vehicle now look like they haven't aged well). Any ideas? What's OEM tire size? 265 70 15?

How about the brake caliper? It may have a sticking piston or the pad pins might be stuck causing the pads to bind occassionally.

My '04 4x2 has 225/70-15 as the stock tire size. You may want to check out places like TireRack; it'll show you what came stock and I feel like I got a pretty good deal on some 235/75-15 Kuhmos there.