Pop from drivers side tire

I changed my brakes a few days ago and when i was coming home from christmas break I noticed this very loud pop coming from my front end. I got home and realized it is in the drivers side of the axle. It occurs when i drive it for more than about 30 minutes and gets progressively worse. It only occurs at slower speed when i do not apply the brakes. As soon as i do hit the brakes it stops and rides smooth. Every thing in the brakes appears to be tight. Anybody have any ideas?

oh fyi it is deffinately coming from somthing that is rotationg b/c it is cyclic

What year XJ?
On my 98, I went out and bought some new brake pads (shoes? Whatever...) a few weeks after I bought it. After driving a while on them I had to hit them hard to avoid an accident, and I heard a pop. After that, a cyclic sound and metal grating. Got it home less than a mile away, and took a look. The calipers used that year were 2 piece, the surface that the brake pads grab onto seperated from the hub portion. This was a recall apparently, and I had it fixed as such.

Not saying this is your problem, but ya never know. Or at least you won't until you get down in there and look.

its on a 97

any lift? unibearings?

4.5"