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[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Let's see what you guys think here.

I was out and about this morning and had stopped to grab something from work. When I went to back up from the building so I could leave, I suddenly couldn't. For some reason it was like something was blocking me from moving. But I was able to move forward. I had to get out to make sure I didn't back into something, which I didn't. So I tried to back up again and what ever was holding me in place let go but then I had some noise when I would be moving which sounded like was coming from the front end. I couldn't tell for sure though. I figured if I could get home I'd troubleshoot more there. Nothing looked like there was catastrophic failure though. No holes blown in anything. But but the time I was home the noise had stopped. Any suggestions where I should start looking?

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Suspicious right now of the rear differential beginning to fail. I don't have any way to drain it right now though to see what it looks like inside.

 

[mikez71]

Maybe jack up the back, place on jackstands, put in neutral, and try turning the driveshaft by hand?
Are you 4WD?

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I do have 4 wheel drive. I did have all 4 tires off the ground earlier today. They all spin ok. I didn't try the driveshaft though. I have a gravel driveway so I don't have super good ground for jack stands. Not noticing any abnormal noise or catching in rotation. The only thing I really noticed was with the back tires. Spinning forward has less resistance than backward.

I did try engaging 4 wheel drive and driving a bit too. Didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

I think I can safely eliminate the rear axle from this. I pulled the cover today and drained the oil to make sure nothing was floating around that wasn't supposed to. The gears all seem to look ok and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Only a small amount of filings on the magnet for the fill plug.

 

[strutaeng]

Parking brake maybe? You you said noise was coming from the front?

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Maybe. But I don't have parking brake shoes in there anymore. They got taken out several years ago when I did brakes. I haven't ever tried to use the parking brake ever since I got the vehicle.

I was using chatgpt to try and diagnose this. It suggested there was maybe something bound up with one of the rear calipers.

The noise I was hearing seemed to be coming from the front, but wasn't exactly sure. It reminded me of the sound like if you roll tires on a hard surface that are worn feathered.