Grinding/Vibrating noise at 50 mph and 70 mph

[nickelghandi]

Hello all!
I believe this is my first post so let's see how this goes. I have a 2004 Pathfinder LE Platinum. As the title suggests, there is a strange grinding/vibrating nous whenever I hit about 50 MPH and again around 70 MPH. It does it whether I'm cruising, accelerating, decelerating, and regardless of what gear I am in. It even does it if I throw it in neutral above these speeds and slow down to them. It also seems to do it ever so slightly as I come to a stop. My worry is that its the transmission since from the drivers seat it feels like it's right underneath me, however it feels that way no matter where one is sitting in the vehicle so I doubt it is that. Could it be a wheel bearing but I don't know why it would do it at a crawl speed while slowing down. Brakes are almost new and work perfectly. There is also an incessant beeping coming through the speakers whenever I start it up that lasts for about 15 seconds but I believe that is unrelated. I do have a tpms but all tires are full and the light is not on. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Nick

[hasoon2000]

I have a 2001 QX4. I feel the vibration on the front driver side as well. I had my brother and his friend check it out. They said my tires are going to need to be replaced. We changed the Wheel Bearings, struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, rack and pinion and axles. I'm going to get brakes changed this week. So we know it's not the mechanics and my tires were rebalanced and rotated and I have that vibration when I go 60 or more. We put new tires in January of 2011 and I put 41K on the tires since. I was told the tires we have on aren't #1. Have your tires checked out. See if there are any cracks and make sure you have the correct amount of air in the tires. You can check the tire weight on the sticker inside the driver door panel, The one that has your VIN on it.

[nickelghandi]

Yeah, I'm thinking its the tires. It sat a while before I started driving it and the tires developed some weather cracks in the sidewall. They have good tread though. I wish I could just swap the tires from my 99.5 onto the 04 but they're 16s and the 04 likes 17s.

[Slumpert]

You might consider having the wheel bearings checked. They can cause all sorts of weird noises as they go.

[nickelghandi]

I'll do that when I get it serviced here soon. Usually I do my own service but I've got some questions so it'll be good to ask while its already on the lift. Thanks for the responses guys!

[nickelghandi]

Here's a little update. I've recently had all four tires replaced, and replaced the shocks, struts, and front anti-sway components. They supposedly checked the bearings while doing the tires, but who knows if they really did...? My guess is it's somewhere in the drive line. Could be the spline as the drive shaft goes into the transmission. Could be the front CV axles. Could a bad transmission mount cause this? Mine looks different from the one that was on my 99.5, as if it could be broken, but it may just be different. It's so speed specific that I have to wonder if it is in the differential or something. Perhaps a bad gear. I will continue chasing this problem and post what I find so anyone else with this issue can hopefully get it fixed quicker than me.

[4xq]

I would have u-joints checked. They can create vibrations at specific speeds. Not uncommon on vehicles that have hit the 10 year mark. And they do have that "coming from right under my seat" feeling.

[nickelghandi]

I would have u-joints checked. They can create vibrations at specific speeds. Not uncommon on vehicles that have hit the 10 year mark. And they do have that "coming from right under my seat" feeling.

They also said they checked the u-joints and they looked fine. The shop had the vehicle for two days and I asked them to look over it thoroughly to see if they could find the noise so I am inclined to believe that they did. Am I able to just remove the front CV axles to essentially stop the front differential from rotating? I know I can, but is it safe? I know I could buy manual hubs, but I am looking to do it on the cheap and this is just for diagnosis; no long term removal.

[Towncivilian]

Have you tried greasing the driveshafts yet? Odd suggestion I know, but others have had strange noises vanish after simply greasing the driveshafts.

[nickelghandi]

Have you tried greasing the driveshafts yet? Odd suggestion I know, but others have had strange noises vanish after simply greasing the driveshafts.

It's worth a shot. I'll be headed home this weekend to watch the UK game with my family, and will pick up some grease and a gun on the way. I'll grease it up and report back.

GO CATS! hahaha

[bigmisiu]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm having similar issues with my 2005 pathfinder now.

Have you tried greasing the driveshafts yet? Odd suggestion I know, but others have had strange noises vanish after simply greasing the driveshafts.

It's worth a shot. I'll be headed home this weekend to watch the UK game with my family, and will pick up some grease and a gun on the way. I'll grease it up and report back.

GO CATS! hahaha

[nickelghandi]

Did you ever figure this out? I'm having similar issues with my 2005 pathfinder now.

I haven't figured it out yet, but greasing the shaft didn't help at all. The front is the only one that can be greased. I am taking it in soon to get work done and I will ask them to chase it, but no one so far has been able to figure it out. It is easily replicated when they drive it, but no mechanic can relate it to one specific thing. I am just replacing things as they go bad so eventually I am sure I'll solve the issue, but until then, I am just turning my music up so I cannot hear it.