Drivetrain issue - 2001 LC

[SCLCruiser]

I bought my LC just over a week ago and have been steadily addressing a lot of maintenance items on it like changing all fluids, spark plugs etc. This morning I pulled up to a stop sign and when I started to go, it made a loud noise and then loud metal scraping sound from the front end and it wouldn't go at all. It would go into reverse. I got my trailer and towed it back to my place and then I put it back into drive and it starts going fine. It will go about 25' and then it is like something slips out and it sounds like something with splines like a gear is rubbing and not engaging. IF i back it back in reverse it seems to go fine and then will go back in to drive for 10 - 20' and then whatever it is will slip back out. Sorry for my lack of mechanical knowledge but if anyone knows what the issue is, I would appreciate it so I can get a gameplan together on getting it fixed. It sounds like something in front end and not the transmission. I hated to just tow it to the dealer and bend over without some knowledge of what the issue is and what some options to fix it would be. Vehicle has 188k miles

Thanks for any help

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Search for drive flange. Most likely one of the c-clips on the end of the CV popped off and your CV is spinning in the hub.

 

[SCLCruiser]

Search for drive flange. Most likely one of the c-clips on the end of the CV popped off and your CV is spinning in the hub.

Thanks. I have done a search and am reading up on the drive flanges. Assuming that is the problem, Is that typically a major thing to correct? Hopefully the teeth didn't get messed up. Any idea of a cost range to fix?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Those threads should cover it. Best case it's putting the c-clip back on. Worst case it's a new CV and/or new drive flange.