Bad bearings or busted drive shaft?

[axefire]

With 120k on my 06 M35x, I've kept up on maintenace (tires, brakes, belts, all fluids changed (radiator, transmission flush, rear diff, etc) even had to replace my rear brake calipers because they locked up (mostlikely due to the fact this past winter was the worst in record here in NJ, salt on the roads, and major home renovations which left me without a garage to park my car in this entire past winter...but...

Wondering if anyone else with 100k+ on their M35x had this problem:

For a while I've been thinking I need new bearings. As it turns out, my front main drive shaft broke... The universal joint in the front snapped! I had no idea what the problem was, thought it was bad bearings because of the noise and the fact I have 120k on the original bearings.

Apparently as per the Infiniti parts dude this is somewhat common as he has a few in stock and told my man at STS he's distributed a few over the past few months.

Anyone bust their front main drive shaft?

[Ilya]

Negative, but I've had the bearings go though.

[EniGmA1987]

Nope I am at 150K and not had the issue. Someone else on here did though, I remember them talking about it. I think it was also said you can get a new driveshaft made for your car for not much more than an OEM one and the custom one can be made with removable u-joints or something? In case the joint breaks again later. IDK. Hopefully whoever it was will chime in to this thread with some more info.

[svard75]

With 120k on my 06 M35x, I've kept up on maintenace (tires, brakes, belts, all fluids changed (radiator, transmission flush, rear diff, etc) even had to replace my rear brake calipers because they locked up (mostlikely due to the fact this past winter was the worst in record here in NJ, salt on the roads, and major home renovations which left me without a garage to park my car in this entire past winter...but...

Wondering if anyone else with 100k+ on their M35x had this problem:

For a while I've been thinking I need new bearings. As it turns out, my front main drive shaft broke... The universal joint in the front snapped! I had no idea what the problem was, thought it was bad bearings because of the noise and the fact I have 120k on the original bearings.

Apparently as per the Infiniti parts dude this is somewhat common as he has a few in stock and told my man at STS he's distributed a few over the past few months.

Anyone bust their front main drive shaft?

What were the symptoms that led you to have it checked out? Please describe the noise(s) and any symptoms leading up to the actual break.

[axefire]

Symptoms: when driving slow in like a parking lot there was a ticking type of noise coming from the front of the car, especially when turning. The faster I drove the louder it got, and the more it sounded like gears grinding.... My mechanic described it as almost sounding like I had a playing card flapping in the spokes of my bicycle. Again the faster I drove the louder it got and the higher the pitch. Not coming from the engine, almost sounded like it was the passenger side wheel that's why I thought it was bearings.

Also I jacked the front end up, spun the front tires by hand (passenger side first), heard a slight grinding noise, but when I quickly changed direction (spinning clockwise then counter clockwise) the wheel would briefly luck up! Crazy...

[bluedevil30]

I had a front axle break on my 06 M35x at about 70K and it was replaced under warranty. On my 09 M35x (118K miles now) - I've had one bearing replaced last year and I had a rear brake caliper seize up a few months ago (replaced both rear calipers)

Did STS do all that work for you? I live not far from you and have STS do most of the easy work (brakes, tires, oil changes). They didn't seem too interested in doing the bearing work or the flushes, so I went to the dealer.

[axefire]

I had a front axle break on my 06 M35x at about 70K and it was replaced under warranty. On my 09 M35x (118K miles now) - I've had one bearing replaced last year and I had a rear brake caliper seize up a few months ago (replaced both rear calipers)

Did STS do all that work for you? I live not far from you and have STS do most of the easy work (brakes, tires, oil changes). They didn't seem too interested in doing the bearing work or the flushes, so I went to the dealer.

Yup I use STS in Chester NJ for most everything I can't do myself. Oil changes and stuff i use quick lube in Hackettstown.I do my own brakes and belts, but calipers and axle they did. Been using this STS for 15 years they are really good. They will do my bearings no problem but when I finally need them I will most likely do them myself or at least try....