2004 Bruin 350 2wd

Has mechanical cable actuated drum brakes on the solid rear end, fronts are hydraulic.

I've noticed that when I get on the rear brakes hard, I get a strange noise from somewhere "under the butt" area. Can't really pinpoint at this point if it's coming from the rear drive shaft, axle, or brake area.

It almost sounds like U-joint or other drivetrain slack. It's not a grinding type of noise, it sort of sounds like a chatter or knocking type of noise.

There's no noises when accelerating or under normal riding conditions, it's only when braking hard with the rear brakes (doesn't do it if I only apply front brakes)

Through some research I've read that some Grizzly's had a similar noise and it was often worn out brake pads or diff mounting locations. However those have hydraulic rear brakes and independent rear suspension, so things are set up a little different, so the problem may not be the same between the two...

For the time being nothing seems to be wrong to the point where it's going to put the machine out of operation, it's just a strange sound... If it's normal I'll live with it lol, but if it's something that needs looked into then I have no issues digging in and fixing it.

Any ideas one what to look at first?

 

Pull the rear drum and check things out then you know for sure

 

Lift the rear end off the ground, take the drum off and check the rear brakes, check the wheel bearings both sides, make sure the swinging arm bushes are OK. Make sure swinging arm to axle mounts are tight. Check for play in the prop shaft, you can usually feel the UJ through the boot, rock the rear wheel backwards and forwards while doing this.