So I had someone look at my car cause it feels like it wasn't moving as fast as it should. They took it for a test drive and said it feels as though it's dragging something. They lifted the car and said the front wheels turn fine but the rear wheels are hard to turn. They had no explanation as to why or what this means. Anyone have the same problems or ideas????
HELPPPP!!!!

I'm beginning to think my car hates me...

 

dumb question but was the parking brake on when they did this?

 

Parking brake on and/or transmission in gear when they turned the rear wheels?

 

Parking break was off and the car was in neutral I believe.

 

Sounds like a brake pad issue or brakes themselves. It could also be the rotor is warped.

 

Brakepads normally drag a small amount, but if recently replaced perhaps improperly done?

 

The brake pads and rotors checked out just fine....sorry forgot to mention that.

 

rotors dont warp, they build up/wear down unevenly

 

Only thing left is something related to the tranny/differential I believe then.

 

is it possible the parking brake mechanism that adjust as the brakes wear is a one click to far in causing the brakes to drag?

 

yes a maladjusted or stuck parking brake can cause it.

who checked the brakes and said they were fine?

 

I've actually had the brakes checked by a mazda dealership and a friend of mine who works for a tire and brake company. Both said they were fine. The brakes were just changed in December by the dealership I bought the car from.

 

did they check them while experiencing this dragging issue?

 

Wheel bearings perhaps?

 

but a guy checking the brakes would notice that, yeah?

 

^.............one would think......but one never knows.

 

Drive the car for a while and touch the rims to check whether it is abnormally hot. I had that happened to my other car, brake pad was rubbing rotor due to crap preventing piston from returning fully. Needless to say, rotor was toasted.

 

Just for the heck of it I jacked up my rearend and spun the wheels in neutral with the parking brake off (don't worry; jack stands and chocks, as always). As cited earlier there's a very small amount of normal pad drag. The bulk of the drag is the running gear/differential gearing itself (I use Redline fluid btw). There's a reason that engine HP and wheel HP are considerably different (latter lower).

 

I talked to my friend again about him looking at the wheels. He said it would turn ok until the differential engaged. As soon as it did the wheel is very reluctant to turn. Hoping a differential fluid change will help??