Hey everybody, I know all of you on this board know what you're talkin bout so i figured i would throw this out there. I was drivin the '87 bird with the radio on when suddenly i heard a metal on metal shearing sound. This had been the first time i drove it in a while so i turned the radio down to get a better listen. sounded like a rotor was stuck or something so i parked it and went about my business. next time out sound came back much louder put it up on the jackstands and turned the front tires. nothing. crap. kept it up in the air and spun the rear tires. they felt a little clicky and there was a hesistation almost like a pulsating as i tried to spin them by hand but no sound. i said screw it and started the car and let the clutch out in gear on the stands and the shearing sound could be heard from somewhere in the rear end. my posi works because when i spin one tire clockwise the other goes counterclockwise. the sound sounds like someone dragging a metal rake down the street. the reason i dont think it is a ring or pinion gear is because i have blown one before and the car shook like hell and was clicking and banging everywhere. this time that is not the case. any ideas???

 

That is THE definitive sign that it is NOT a posi. Unless it was a Torsen, swapped into it out from out of a MUCH newer vehicle.

Or, WAS NOT, as the case may be....

Sounds like it's time to pull the rear end cover and look inside. Most likely, I expect you'll find that now is a good time to get a posi carrier and upgrade from your existing one-legger.

 

Yeah i know i have to pull it eventually i just thought that the sound may be an indicator of something someone knows off the top of their head. could be something simple like the u joint, which would save me a big headache.