Sudden lock up at 15mph
 

Hi everyone ,

I was driving home from work and heard a metallic grinding noise and thought it was the brakes binding so slowed down as I was nearly home but suddenly something locked up and it felt like I had hit a brick wall , I tried to move car forwards and backwards using the gears and nothing the car felt as if something had jammed, I rang a mate who towed me home , the car didn't want to move at first then something went and it towed the 400 yards home ok , we took the tow gear off and I started the car and tried it again and the car went forwards and backwards ok with no noises at all and rolled freely,I have looked under the car and cannot see anything externally wrong , I am now worried that if I drive it again that it will lock up at speed which won't be pleasant , the car is a 1998 uk Subaru impreza turbo , has anyone experienced this or can help me through this problem

Paul

Transfer box?

Would the car still drive after locking up ?

air con pump seizing up?

sounds brake related ......

Handbrake shoes?

Well my back brakes are all stripped off and the handbrake shoes are worn but still in one piece and very rusty , new discs,shoes and pads ordered , so I don't think sudden lock up was caused by the shoes splitting and jamming , front brakes are fine , air con pump ok ,

If it was a gearbox problem would the car suddenly lock up and come to an abrupt halt ( tyres screeched ) after tugging it with another car something gave way and it rolled freely , surely if the gearbox had gone it wouldn't drive again , mine did forwards and backwards only went up to second gear though as didn't want to cause more damage , there was no grinding noise at all , still worries me driving it until I can find the cause , any help appreciated , I am a competent home mechanic but never worked on a scooby before so I haven't come across this problem before