My daughter complains that occasionally when she backs out of a parking spot and drives through the parking lot, one back tire will squeel as she drives around corners. She says it sounds like she is 'peeling out' and she is only going 5 mph. Once she has pulled out on the street and gone through the gears, it frees up.

I don't know what kind of rear end the car has, but it is not likely original as the speedometer reads about 10% faster than the car is going.

Is this possibly normal behavior? I once had a '68 Chevy 3/4 ton truck with an OEM 410 rear end that would lock up and do this on turns, but only if you were accelerating.

Is this a warning of eminent failure?

Might different gear oil help free it up (I've not changed it since I bought the car two years ago).

Suggestions?

Thanks.

Could be that someone installed a "Detroit Locker" posi rear end...

There's a chance you may have a 'no slip' differential. Chock the front wheels, and then jack the back end up with a jack under the diff. With the trans in neutral and the parking brake off, rotate one rear wheel. If the other rear wheel rotates in the same direction, good news... you have a No Spin (limited slip) diff. If the other wheel rotates opposite to the one you're moving, then you have a conventional diff, and the tire squeal your daughter hears is probably related to the brakes, as other posts have suggested.

If you do have a No Spin, I suggest you drain and refill it with fresh gear lube AND the few ounces of limited slip additive required - most parts stores sell this stuff.

I ran into this a few years ago on an 89 244. It was actually caused by the emergency brake shoe friction material coming loose on one of the shoes, this would then get jammed into the remaining good pad when in reverse. Pull the caliper, pull the rotor and take a look!

jorrell

The brake caliper problem is a good suggestion.

In addition, given that you mentioned that the differential isn't likely OEM, I am assuming that you don't have clear records of its history. Have you checked the differential for something obvious? Fluid level? Or for a tag indicating it's a limited slip -- it might have been given new fluid without the proper additive?

Good luck. At least, you should be given credit for being the kind of dad who gives his daughter a 240 -- I'm working on a 240 to give my daughter, too.
Happy (nearly) Father's Day!

Brake caliper freezing up