Strange Transmission Drag

3 times in the last 2 weeks the transmission in my 96 has created a drag that feels like the brakes are being applyed to the front wheels only, the drag is strong enough that the tires squeeled on a dip in the road.

The condition when this happens is slowing down from around 40-45 using the brakes. When I let off the brakes about 30 mph and let it coast it will drag for about 2 or 3 seconds. It comes on smoothly and releases the same way. The only noise was a tire squeel when I hit a dip in the road.

I have driven it about 100 miles and it only happened 3 times. I want to get to the bottom of this as if it happens in a turn at speed I am sure it could lock the front wheels ans I may loose control of the vehicle.

It almost feels like it is in 2 gears at once, It's not engine braking as far as I can tell I do not think the RPM's increase when it happens.

Any Ideas??

I am wondering if you have a brake caliper sticking?
I had mine replaced last spring on my '96 @ 183K miles for intermittently sticking.

I am wondering if you have a brake caliper sticking?
I had mine replaced last spring on my '96 @ 183K miles for intermittently sticking.

I do not think it is brakes, I am off the brakes and they have already released when the drag starts, the decileration rate of the drag is more than when I was on the brakes.

I will need to keep driving it and see if I can add more to the puzzle.

It did it again this morning.

This time it locked the front wheels on wet pavement. I was coasting up to a red light without touching the brakes and the front wheels locked up for about 2 seconds.

It is like it did a hard downshift with enging braking except the RPM's do not go up. Seems to me like it is attempting to engage 2 gears at the same time.


Any Ideas ??

Sounds like it may be, as you say, in two gears at once. The condition is described in the 2nd paragraph of this web page:

http://www.technicalevolution.com/niceshft.htm