Pathfinder Help w/ Rear End Noise - Differential??

[branshew]

My wife's '00 Pathfinder LE is making a noise from the rear end. I only hear it at low speeds and only when turning (like into a parking space). I hear it when going in forward or reverse and turning left or right. The noise is coming from the back of the truck just behing the rear seat. It sounds like a cyclical whirring/squeaking noise like "ree-err, ree-err, ree-err...". (I realize that sound-text translation is somewhat poor, but I can't think of anything else to describe it.) The noise seems to be more pronounced after driving about 10-15 minutes.

The truck has about 80K on it and the noise has started recently. Since it can only be heard when turning my first thought was the differential, but I was hoping someone else could shed some light on it. I don't want to get taken at the dealership for several $K if it's not the diff, but at the same time I don't want my wife driving it on the highway with my daughter in the back and have the diff go out at 65 MPH.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

[usc45]

a friend of mine works at a nissan dealer,and when i told him that i had purchased a '01 QX4, he asked me if the rear diff made any noises. he told me that a noisy diff is somewhat common on these trucks. maybe have it checked at the dealer, or bring it to a reputable repair shop so they can check the rear end fluid level. unfortunatley, my friend never did tell me what causes this, but i'll ask the next timne i see him.

[s13sr20chris]

common? i have seen one or two but that is far from common. heh, just ask a jeep owner if its only when turning then it is likely in the spider gears. nevertheless, you would want to just buy a whole third member as its no more expensive and its already set up for you. its very easy to install if you are mechanically inclined.