Ok, first I'll apologize if this is a premature post but I'm trying to get input in all phases of trying to figure this out, here goes...
First off, I knew front brakes were going/squealing, the rears were toast and those were replaced a month or so ago and just didn't find time to do fronts. I had to tow my little Merc Tracer from my old place, it sat for a few years on gravel and not running so had to engage 4hi and tow it out of the settled spot. Front brakes locked up on Tracer, rears freed, so when I eventually got it on the tow dolly I headed home. 1 mile to highway. Then about 4 miles down the road at speed a loud grinding/rumbling noise happened all of a sudden. I pulled over immediately. No spills, no noticeable breakage, but when back in truck I noticed I forgot to put back into 2hi, I put in 2hi and hear and felt it disengage. I headed back home, the noise was still present but not as loud and I kept my speed much slower.
I thought for the best that maybe a brake part or gravel was lodged somewhere because it sounded like it was coming from the front drivers side. The next day I do the front brakes. I don't notice any parts hung up or any gravel stuck. The wheels turn by hand but having never done it before on this truck I don't know how freely they turned, but I did not notice any noise or "catching". Also, the last 1.25 miles getting home is up a steep grade that I'm now having very poor power to get up as if calipers are froze.
Side notes: the parking brakes are non-functioning and those need done so those aren't a culprit, I have a P0440 code and will be looking into that as well today and this weekend, I've had the 03 TB EXT about two years/30,000 miles (has 150K total) I have no clue about prior maintenance but I've done plugs, cleaned throttle body, air filter, oil changes alternator; also I am very cash poor so I'm looking at the least costly options for diagnosis and repair but willing and able to do most repairs myself granted I can figure out the problem.
Thanks in advance for any and all help! Bill.
First off, I knew front brakes were going/squealing, the rears were toast and those were replaced a month or so ago and just didn't find time to do fronts. I had to tow my little Merc Tracer from my old place, it sat for a few years on gravel and not running so had to engage 4hi and tow it out of the settled spot. Front brakes locked up on Tracer, rears freed, so when I eventually got it on the tow dolly I headed home. 1 mile to highway. Then about 4 miles down the road at speed a loud grinding/rumbling noise happened all of a sudden. I pulled over immediately. No spills, no noticeable breakage, but when back in truck I noticed I forgot to put back into 2hi, I put in 2hi and hear and felt it disengage. I headed back home, the noise was still present but not as loud and I kept my speed much slower.
I thought for the best that maybe a brake part or gravel was lodged somewhere because it sounded like it was coming from the front drivers side. The next day I do the front brakes. I don't notice any parts hung up or any gravel stuck. The wheels turn by hand but having never done it before on this truck I don't know how freely they turned, but I did not notice any noise or "catching". Also, the last 1.25 miles getting home is up a steep grade that I'm now having very poor power to get up as if calipers are froze.
Side notes: the parking brakes are non-functioning and those need done so those aren't a culprit, I have a P0440 code and will be looking into that as well today and this weekend, I've had the 03 TB EXT about two years/30,000 miles (has 150K total) I have no clue about prior maintenance but I've done plugs, cleaned throttle body, air filter, oil changes alternator; also I am very cash poor so I'm looking at the least costly options for diagnosis and repair but willing and able to do most repairs myself granted I can figure out the problem.
Thanks in advance for any and all help! Bill.