NYCPath

Hi;
Here's the low-down. About two weeks ago I noticed a soft squeel when turning at low speed. Almost as if the steering wheel shroud (not actual terminology) was rubbing against the column... or if something in the steering needed a little grease or a bushing. Spring is just around the corner and I thought it might wait couple-a-weeks until I could get under there and see whuzzup. Then I notice a slight rhythmic / bent rotor-like squeek from the front right tire when braking lightly on slow turns and parking maneuvers (all this is from the front right tire vicinity) which I interpretted as road salts affecting slightly bent rotors and needing new brake pads (mech at garage told me I'll need to change rotors when I do my brakes in the spring).
Then... two days ago while driving to work I got caught snoozin' when a van in front of me had to brake suddenly and I had to brake hard also. From that moment on I have had a noise which sounds like the mudflap got flipped up onto the tire... or if a stone had gotten into a axle boot and was grinding away in the gears...
There was no CV joint clicking on turns prior. I had used both the 4-hi and 4-lo this winter but never had any noises.
I've tried going through elaborate "hub disengaging maneuvers" in case the hubs somehow ... engaged... without my actually engaging them... (?).
This noise was really loud when it happened, then, when I got out of work, I tried the "disengaging the hubs maneuvers" and it was really very soft for a while (almost as if the sound was from big ol' off-road tires on the pavement), then it got louder again when I had to brake slightly harder than usual. Now, at the end of day two, it begins at a medium volume whirring / gear meshing-like sound which changes pitch with tire rotation speed, got loud for a few minutes mid-ride, and finished medium volume.
I'm fearing the drive axle diagnosis and my wallet burrows into the crack of my ass at the mere mention of it. I suppose a brake caliper / pad thing might not be too bad... who can come over and check it out for me? (did I mention I was a fair-weather curb-side mechanic?). But what I would really like to hear from you Nissan enthusiasts is where that "annoying front-end noise" button is. I think I might have accidently turned mine on.

Thanks for any and all advice;
wayne