Did a test drive in a used '99 Outback wagon, with 5 spd manual.  Engine seemed OK (no oil pressure gage?), but when put in gear and driven off, most awful grinding, screeching noise from under car, perhaps tranny or driveshaft?  Noise followed car speed, didn't change with upshift, continued on even with engine off and coasting, unrelated to clutch.  While this going on, tranny not vibrating..

 

I seem to recall that auto tranny model had the viscous coupling center diff built into the rear of the tranny, and the manual set up used some planitary gear set up?  Would failure of the center diff make a lot of noise but allow the car to keep going?

 

Any ideas out there?

 

TIA

carrier bearing? simply something rubbing on the drive-shaft?

^^^^ good post.

 

I wouldn't discounta dragging brake caliper or even a pebble stuck between the rotor and dust shield

carrier bearing? simply something rubbing on the drive-shaft?

Car has fairly new front axles.  I wonder if they were replaced in an attempt to fix the noise.. I suspect something in the tranny or driveshaft.  I was wondering if anybody else had had similar experience.

^^^^ good post.

 

I wouldn't discounta dragging brake caliper or even a pebble stuck between the rotor and dust shield

 

I'd expect if it were brakes the noise would be localized at the affected corner, not dead under the center of the car.  Anyway, the rotors all look good and the steering didn't pull, or in anyway influence the noise.