About 4 miles from home, took a left turn & all of a sudden a horrid graunch/grind noise developed from, as far as I can tell the rear end.
Pitch black outside & in the middle of nowhere
I pulled over & got the torch under the car. The first thing I noticed was liquid on the lower half of the rear off-side brake 'dust plate'. So a brake fluid leak is clearly one problem! Brake fluid level was fine, as were the other fluids.
Everything else appeared in place. So with about 3 miles to run I decided (rightly or wrongly) to push on at a snails pace & pulled over for any cars approaching from the rear.
The noise seems speed related & became quite loud if I pushed it to 20mph. It also continued if I de-clutched & let him coast, so hoping it's not rear diff related from that?
My thoughts are that either one of the rear wheel bearings has gone home or the handbrake shoes have fallen to bits (although handbrake appears to be working).
I do not think the fluid leak would cause something to grind/graunch... but maybe?
I guess I should be grateful that it has highlighted the brake fluid leak before it got too serious!
Cannot do anything now till tomorrow, but any ideas on what to look out for would be appreciated
