Terrible (non-engine) sqweek + leaf spring

[Mac]

Hey all,
So the other day my neighbor had a truck stuck in his driveway and no one else around to move it, so I thought "Hey, I have a big army truck, i can fix this!". The truck was stuck in a place....well what matters is i had to go over this little ditch with the m37 and up over a hill to help from the other side. I slowly roll down after I put it in 4x4 and everything down in low and stuff, and I roll my front tires into the rut until it stops rolling. This rut is right next to the street, my back tires are 1' from the street and the front only maybe 1' below street level, its really pretty flat. i started to give it some gas to climb over the hill and i get nothing when I try to take the clutch out! It feels like it just doesnt want to grab hold or something. I try to back out- Nothing. i try getting out and putting it in 2 wheel drive, and putting it all back in high how I normally drive it. Still wont budge- rear tires turned a tiny bit before I thought it would stall out. I walked home and came back in my rock crawler and some chain to pull myself out (this is getting embarrassing). Truck rolls out with no problem, obviously wasnt stuck there. I go to drive it home and it can hardly make it up my driveway, which i admit is a bit of a hill, but not that bad.
Also when I went back home it started to make a big of a sqweeky-metal rubbing metal- type noise. I went out today to try it again, got it to back up while sounding like nails on a chalk board the whole time, then back in place making just as much noice. its really terrible. The sound seems to be coming from the rear, but i was alone so I'm not sure- i do know it is not the engine. Help???

Also- when I tried to go up the rut, maybe I was at an angle or maybe they were just 59 years old, but my passanger front leaf springs seem to have gone flat? I guess I need to replace them, but i've never had that happen. Is this tough?

[powerwagontim]

Broken axle?
Tim

[hbb]

What it sounds like a possible clutch problem if it were a broken axle you would have still had front wheel drive. When an old clutch disc fails it can go all at once throwing all of the fiber material off the disc and can make that sound of nails on a chalk board. That might be why it would hardly pull itself up your driveway.
Put it in gear hold the brakes and let the clutch out see if makes the noise if not then you will need to get it off the ground on jack stands and start checking it for the noise when running and in gear, this will give the ability to pin point the noise easier if you are going to be alone. work smart and be safe take no chances make sure it is very stable on the stands.
hb

[MSeriesRebuild]

What you have described sounds like the clutch has failed to me also. I expect dropping the cover off the bottom of the flywheel housing will reveal some visual evidence of that.

[Cal_Gary]

I agree with the failed clutch diagnosis. Also, front leaves can be easy or difficult to replace. It depends on whether the retaining pins have frozen in place. I had to cut off one head then drive it inside to remove it (which meant I also replaced the bushings so everything is now nice and tight up front).
Gary