Project: E34 Busted Pile

[Jake]

I've decided to leave the transmission alone. Jeff really, really doubts the previous owner had it changed - unless an ATF check/change is part of Inspection I or Inspection II, then it was probably done at some point. Regardless, it shifts pretty well for the mileage, only somewhat firm shifts are getting into 4th, and even then, only occasionally.

We have a bigger issue at the moment... I can't back up. It's not like Zoolander and the "can't turn left" complex, the car actually won't do it. Trans shifts into reverse just fine, car wants to go. The right rear wheel doesn't want to move. If I prod at the gas pedal some, the right rear of the car will rise up a few inches. Left rear will move fine.

When I put it in Drive and go forward, you can hear a sort of metallic swishing sound (pad on rotor?) from that wheel. As soon as I touch the brake pedal, that wheel makes a clunk and is silent under braking, as it should be. I had the Davids watch while I tried going in Reverse, and they said that the wheel isn't trying to move at all.

This is a new issue that's appeared after my possession of the car. Brake pads and rotors were changed back in October, and Jeff has the receipt to prove it. His dad did the work, so I'm wondering if he missed something during the process. It has become worse as I've driven... started out as just the clunk when hitting the brake pedal, and has progressed from there. I've only put 60 miles on the car, but it did sit outside for all the snow and ice and nastiness, undriven, since early November.

I'm planning to jack it up and remove the wheel tomorrow. The E34 has the parking brake inside the rear rotors, apparently. I have no problem calling Mid Atlantic (since I'm not going there for ATF now) but would rather diagnose and fix on my own...