ok im driving to work this morning, and all of the sudden i hear this nasty sound. i had the stereo up and at first it sounded like a horrible exhaust leak, so i turn it down and listen closer, and it sounds a bit different, but i still can't pinpoint it. i was about half a mile from my parking spot at work when this happened, cruising along at 30 mph and low rpm, not flogging it or anything, although i do on a regular basis.

im almost positive it started all at once, but i did have the stereo up for a couple minutes before i noticed it, so it could have been gradual over a few minutes time, but i've never heard anything like that before, or noticed any symptoms out of my rear other than wheel-hop.
(in the past, haven't gotten after it since this started)

after listening a little closer, with my head out the window driving, im positive its coming from the rear of the car. it sounds ALMOST like grinding, but its not grinding. can't really feel it too much. it doesnt do it in park at all. at 5 mph its noticable, but barely. over 10 it starts getting pretty loud, at 20-30 its really, really loud. my dad could hear it following me in his truck, and he said it was pretty damned loud, i didnt even take it over 25.

if im going 20-30 and put it in neutral, it gets quiet, same level as if im going 5 mph, i can rev the engine and it doesnt get much if any worse.

the driveshaft does spin slowly from the wheels rolling in neutral or in gear if you're moving right? im thinking it has to be the driveshaft or u-joints, there isnt anything inside the transmission or rear end it could be is there?

i ask because i had to leave the car at a transmission shop about 4 miles from my house. i drove it about 2 or 3 miles from work to the shop, and it got steadily worse, by the time i pulled in there i wouldnt even have wanted to take it another block. it was to the point where even tapping the gas at 5-10 would make a nasty noise, although it didnt really feel like the engine was loosely connected to the rear. i dont know if they'll be cool and let me jack it up and take a look at it there or charge me the 40-50 bucks or whatever to look at it. want to be a little better informed than i am now before i go in there and they start trying to get more cash out of me.

 

cmon yall i want to go take care of this in the morning, somebody at least drop a thought?

 

If your lucky itll be u joints. Sounds more like an exploded rear or bad tranny.

 

could you elaborate on the exploded rear? you just mean gears shredded? any specific thing in the transmission to look at that could cause it to only do it in gear when under acceleration?

im 99 percent sure its not a grinding noise, it sounds like something loose is back there spinning really. definitely coming from the back, not the middle where the tranny is. i just can't see my tranny or rear fragging out on me while cruising along at 30 mph and about 1400 rpm.

 

If the noise quiets down when you put the car into neutral when you're going 30 it probably is transmission related. Your drive shaft speed won't change if you put the car in neutral since it is directly connected to the ring/pinion.

 

Speed might not change, but load does. It could very well be the beginning of the end for your rearend. Could have stripped a tooth or two on the ring gear, or could be U-joint related. Jack it up, and run the engine with the trans in drive and see if you can pinpoint the sound.

 

guess thatd give me an excuse to get those 3.42's but ouch... my wallet...

i would think gears would be more of a horrible grinding noise, and would have more feedback, i couldnt really feel it, its almost like a clunking noise... i guess i'll find out tomorrow anyhow.

 

well i called the place and the guy was pretty cool, said i could use their lift and take a look at it myself before they charge me anything. the only way my car is going anywhere is being towed, so i think i'll just have them do the labor.

so im gonna go up there in a couple of hours.