Hi I recently bought a 89 dodge dakota with 160,000 miles. It is a 2 wheel drive standard transmision v6. it has been running excellent up until I stopped at a traffic light and when I went to let the clutch in it jerked a little bit but recovered.
Ever since then I hear a grinding noise coming from the back of truck but its not constant. about every half turn of the axle it grinds and the other half it doenst. I jacked the back of the truck up and spun the right side tire and could feel a rough spot but the left tire spun fine. My question is whether or not this is brakes or inside the axle.

Thanks for any help you can offer

 

Check the differential fluid and your driveshaft and U-joints. If they're okay, you may have a clutch slipping.

 

The noise you hear, is it grinding like a crunching sound or grinding like sandpaper on metal sound.

You say it only happens every half turn. If it is brakes, this will happen if the drums is out of round. The friction you feel will be the brake shoes making contact with the drum then not because it is out of round. When the brakes are functioning properly, you should feel a uniform drag as you spin the wheel.

If on the other hand the sound you hear is a crunching sound, it may be a bearing or even a u-joint on the drive shaft.

In either case, further inspection is required. Unfortunately the internet is still quite primitive and we can't extract sound from text.

 

I didnt want to make a new discussion for the same issue. im going to replace the rear u joint today and see if that helps...my truck (94 5.2 5 speed single cab short bed) has whining and vibes whenever i let off the gas or push in the clutch. it looks like i may be leaking diff fluid and replacing the u joint cant hurt. anyone have any other suggestions....i already looked at the vibration guide thanks!

 

All i can gather out of the info you have provided for only one side to be making the noise is yes, possibly out of round drum providing brake drag. possibly a junk wheel bearing or some metal shaving in the axle spline going to the diff, ring, pinion gears. like all great post's... more inspection is implied!