a neighbor has a 65 mustang that they claim the rear end is messed up on and won't roll forward but can roll backwards. is this possible or do they have another problem? the reason i'm asking is that i would like to swap rear ends with them. i don't care that theirs is messed up, i just need rear wheels so the car can be towed away.

 

It sounds more like a brake problem to me. You would need to look at it closer to tell though. I don't see a trans doing that and if it was a bearing or gear issue, it shouldn't roll in either direction.

 

Park brake or certain brake problems in general can do this as well as certain internal automatic transmission failures. Discoing the driveshaft wil be needed to determine which it is. If it rolls without the shaft, the trans is the cause. Any clunk noises heard when trying to roll it? Does it roll freely in reverse? In one case years ago, I had a truck in the shop with a brake caliper that came loose. It wedged into the rim and acted like a 1 way clutch in that it would only let the truck move in one direction. That's just one more thing to look at.

 

thanks. i'll pass along the info. don't think i'll let them swap though, just don't want to take a chance on winding up with a car that won't roll. too bad, was just trying to be a good neighbor. no money was going to change hands.