Have a 2001 ml430. When in attempting to move forward in drive, the vehicle begins to bind. I don' know how else to describe it other than binding. Can't even go 1mph.. it binds to a stop. Hit the gas once and it overcame the bind just to bind up again a few feet later. It does not do it in reverse. Any suggestions?

 

How many miles on it and did you ever do any service to it?

 

174k and I do not know the service history.

 

Sounds more like a stuck caliper. Have you lifted the vehicle and made sure all the wheels turn freely when in neutral? With the vehicle in the air, shift into gear and see where in the drivetrain the bind happens. Could be a differential, or in the transmission as you suggest, but would be unusual.

This type of issue should be fairly easy to troubleshoot if you actually inspect the car.

 

I lifted it up first thing thinking it could have been a damaged cv joint. All wheels spun freely in neutral. It feels like a mechanical stoppage. The rpms are not racing. I literally put this thing in drive let off the brakes and it starts to roll and eventually binds to a halt. Brakes look and work good. The binding doesn't happen in reverse and the brakes work fine in reverse as well.

 

I agree with ItalianJoe, it could very well be the material has separated from the parking brake shoes.

 

Same here i dont think its the transmission itself its the brakes or bearings ,but you never know. Try to get someone to help you and hear where the noise come from and go from there

 

Didn't even think about that. Thanks a bunch fellas!!

 

Sooo... it was the front differential. Apparently, the last time this thing was serviced, someone forgot to fill it back up.. looks like a bomb went off inside of it. And it' dry as a bone.

 

Only one word, WOW!