Chrysler Repair: CHRYSLER LHS GRINDING SOUND, grease leakage, chrysler lhs

Question
97 Chrysler is making grinding sound while in motion. Husband took wheel off
and right boot is cracked but no visible grease leakage;  couldn't get lugnuts off
to inspect other boot.  I am to go out of town tomorrow A.M. early for a three
hour journey.  Is safe to go?   What is the worst that could happen while driving
without this fixed?  What else could the problem be?  Grinds also in neutral but
maybe not quite as loud.  Could it be the auto traction?  Heard one thump.  Any
advice greatly appreciated. This is second request--- I may have left off last two
digits of my e-mail to you before as nothing came to my box.  THANK YOU!~~

Answer
Hi Jeanbart,
You say that it makes the grinding sound in neutral but you didn't say if that was when you were at rest or coasting in neutral. If it does the noise when you are at rest in neutral I would suspect that there is some mechanical issue internal to the transmission; while if it only does it while you are in motion in a forward gear or neutral then it is possible that the cause is a wheel bearing or a cv-joint (of which there are 4, one inboard one outboard on each side, each with its own boot). If the sound is louder when you turn then a cv or wheel bearing is more likely than the trans as the source of the noise. But in general the sound should be localized to one side or the other if it is either of those rather than the transmission which would be more of a midline sound source.
I would be concerned about driving the car for a couple of hundred miles making a grinding sound from the point of view of becoming stranded due to not being able to move the car forward at some point in the journey. It should not cause a loss of control, but I would drive at moderate speeds in the right hand lane.  I was unaware that the Chrysler has a traction control option but a limited slip (autotraction) differential could be the cause of the noise if there is one. Have you checked the fluid level in the trans? If you need some it is important to use only ATF +3 (and even better to get Mopar Type 7176 from a dealer) if it is low as shown on the dipstick located toward the rear end of the powertrain. Fluid is added via the distick tube if needed.
If the sound has just started, but is increasing in intensity then I would worry that the problem will progress. But if the sound has been around for a while and hasn't changed in intensity I would be more willing to take the risk of a journey. The fact that the trans has not gone into "limp-in mode" where it will only run in 2nd gear makes me believe that it is not coming from the trans but rather from a wheel bearing of cv-joint. Wheel bearing usually growl or roar at higher speeds, or at low speeds grind; while cv's usually click loudly particuarly when turning/accelerating/decelerating. You would want to examine all 4 cv boots. It is possible to have all the grease spun out of a cracked boot so it might not appear to be leaking.
So that is my best advice at this point. I'll watch for a response from you tomorrow morning early (5 am west coast time where I am located).
Roland
P.S. I did not get an earlier message.