Tapping Sound When Braking - 02 Pathfinder

[rudebwoy]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and I need your expert opinion on this problem with my '02 Nissan Pathfinder 4X4 SE. I had my rear Brake Drums and Brake Shoe replaced and immediately after leaving the mechanic shop I start hearing a tapping sound when I applied the brake at very-low speed or coming to a stop. The Mechanic did everything; clean the brake drums and Shoes with Brake Cleaners and when that didn't work we took the Brake Drums and Shoes back to the Store we bought them from and got a refund and bought some more at a different store and this didn't fixed the "Tapping" sound.

The Mechanic did some more detailed inspections and rotated the wheels and determined the sounds was coming from the Differential Axle. He then drain and replaced the Differential Fluid (looks good) and this didn't makes the noise go away either. However, the Axle shaft does have a loose play in it and a noise when he rotates the wheel/drum.

Does this mean there is a bad Differential Gear or Bearing or do I need to completely change the entire Differential Axle assembly?

Please help.
Rudebwoy.

[ARKQX33V6]

Don't panic, but if you are sure it is the axle making that noise check your rear seals at and within the brake interior of the rear drum assembly. You had no noise before the brake job, correct, then it could be dirt and crap within the seal, the bearing, but I doubt that. You changed the rear diff oil but did you investigate for material within.

Also from your post determine the noise location, it could even be the ABS module vibrating, when was the last brake fluid change? What type of frequency is this tapping noise, try putting on the e brake just as it touches the drum then hit your brakes and see and hear for the noise. The hold downs for the e brake may be wrong, the rasp catch may have slipped. I assume your mechanic did lube the shoes against the back plate, there is movement there and dirt will make it vibrate.

A failing wheel cylinder if a check valve blockage will oscillate and make noise.

Open your master cylinder and with a bright light check the screen and bottom for crap, if dirty do a purge then an exchange of brake fluid and be sure to pulse the ABS to clean it out of old fluid.

Another strange area for noises is via the vacuum assisted M/C with a blocked vacuum line or a leaking vacuum line that will not maintain pressure as you push the brake.

Check your front calipers, pads, anti rattle spring, the fronts are known to rattle with no maintenance.

Another set of ears are helpful to distinguish where the noise emanates from, it would be very helpful to solve when you know where for sure.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Reproduce the bug as you slowly drive by a buddy. See if the buddy can determine which end and side of the car it's
coming from. It might be helpful to drop the spare.

See if you can reproduce the bug with truck up on jack stands, or floor jack under the diff. See where the sound
is coming from.

[fernandoh]

I tracked that type of sound to the U joints at the propeller shaft in my 4WD auto. Some very small play is producing that "clunck" when slowly braking in mine. It occurs when the torque moves the shaft in the opposite direction to that when bracking. To be sure just brake in neutral. If the clunk its gone you can be sure of its origin. For my truck I don`t have the oversized clips around here so I changed few times the U joints (not Nissans) and the sound dissapeared for a couple of weeks and is always back again.

[rudebwoy]

Update - the sound was coming from the Brake Drums. Although they were brand New, they were slightly out-of-round and had to be cut. After this was done the noise went away. I will stay away from After-Market Drums, Pads and Shoes from now on, I can get better deals online for OEM Factory parts for less than the dealers sell for or After Market Auto Stores.

Thanks everyone for responding and helping with this problem.