Was driving happily down the road - suddenly a sound slammed into
existance... not good...

at low speed it sounds low pitched (parking lot speed)... pitch goes higher
at a higher speed (20 or 30 miles per hour... something like that - I went
real slow...)

it comes from the rear... on the passengers side... doesn't sound good at
all...

I noticed that maybe the seal is going bad on my differential... checked the
level (17 mm hex, I think...) and it was low... had checked it about two
weeks ago and it was fine... (when I was getting the water out of my
automatic tranny...)

So I know a CV joint can go wrong on one side... what I don't know is can
the differential go bad on one side....

Another thing I don't know is what a CV joint job would cost - would like to
do it myself, but I'm short on time...

And also, can you ruin an axle limping to the mechanic when in such a
state...

I raised the wheels off the ground and can hear a not smooth sound from the
boot that is at the differential, to a lesser extent there is some sound,
though I have to get close to hope to hear it, at the boot near the wheel..
both boots are intact with no tears...

And too, tried to take off the drum.. to look and see if it could be brake
related... and I don't have anything on me big enough to unscrew the large
nut where the pin is at... what kind of tool do I need to buy for that...
(with a friend took that off before.. but it was his tool, and I don't
remember...)

Had noticed recently that the brake pedal went down maybe more than
before... though braking has been fine...

What a drag that gas stations and target don't carry hypoid gear oil... I
had some with me at one point, but that stuff is so sick smelling...

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