My truck is a 97 Ford Ranger 2.3 liter 2 wheel drive everything is stock. the rear driveline area coming from under the bed is making a loud metal scraping sound as I'm driving, whining from high pitched to low pitch squealing sort of noise check the rear diff has fluid check the brakes brakes are dirty but that wasn't the problem I don't know what else could be making the noise after I come to a complete stop or anything below 20 miles an hour it completely stops and then continuously does it on and off throughout all the gears. Also does it with truck in neutral while driving. Drive line looked ok as well

 

Have you actually looked behind the brake shields to see if there is a stone or something wedged in there. Take a long screw driver and gently lift the shield up and see if anything drops out.

 

I wasn't aware the was a shield on the drum breaks other them the drum itself. I'll take a closer look.

 

And I do drive on gavel and dirt roads weekly.

 

I apologize I thought there was discs on it. You're description is what happens with the discs.

 

But on they front isn't discs with a shield. It's been a long time since I worked on drums I forget the years they started to change.

 

No problem thanks for the reply though

 

The front brakes are discs, and it's very common to get a stone wedged in between the shield and the rotor.

 

I looked at the front as well. Seams like all 4 breaks are ok no rocks. I feel it's either my rear diff or driveline. Idk. I'm going to t take it to a mechanic soon. Truck has defeated me

 

If it's a u-joint in the driveline, it will be very obvious if you jack the rear end up to take the slack out of the shaft. A bad u-joint will be very loose.