There are a number of symptoms I'm having that could be from different problems. There is no smell like the brakes were on while driving though, so despite it FEELING like the brakes are on, I don't think they are.

#1. The car feels like it's really working just to move at 15-20 miles an hour. I have no tachometer unfortunately, but to me it sounds REALLY loud more than it should be.

#2. If I let off the accelerator the car decelerates significantly and doesn't roll hardly at all.

#3. Hard up-shifting. Especially from first to second. From what I understand this is likely a lack of vacuum.

#4. Strange "lumping" at low speeds, almost like the wheels were lopsided.

I was wondering what this sounds like to the experts. I was thinking it could be the transmission? What in the transmission could cause extra resistance and make the engine have to work harder? What else might it be if not the transmission? Thanks.