So - I checked the basic/normal stuff people report:

- shift bushings
- drive shaft connection to transmission

Everything seemed fine and I was beginning to feel disappointed that it may be a serious internal transmission failure.

To distract myself I decided to do some easy stuff like swap the flat tires in the rear. And as I was pulling the rear passenger wheel I said to myself "wow - this hub is turning really easily - that's odd".

After looking at it more closely as I turned the rear passenger wheel I noticed the shaft going to the wheel was turning oddly. Reached to grab the shaft and it fell off at the wheel side.

And there you go - turns out the transmission was fine the whole time but the shaft fractured where it connects to the wheel hub.

Anyone else seen a shaft like that just break?

-John