rallynutdon

I bought a used 87 Ford van with 176,000 miles on it. Of course I have no idea what the previous owners(s) did. Since I wanted it for towing, I have been putting in Amzoil synthetic ever since with no issues (now over 200,000 miles).

No clacking preceeding it. Obviously no offset diff. I don't think road surface had anything to do with it as it would happen in a perfectly smooth parking lot at <15 mph. No torque steer. It was not a constant pull, the wheel twitched back and forth. No obvious play in the joint when I pulled the shaft (have not taken it apart yet, got a WRX trans in the rally car ro pull out that's more important). I say I'm going to find one ball that's badly mishappened and when it rotated the wrong way it would momentairly seize BTW, 5MT not 4EAT.

This is one for the books. If there's a new problem that no one has ever had before, let it up to me to have it. This morning I got about 1.5 miles from home and the pull was so bad and consistent for 10 seconds I was about ready to turn around and go home. Then I went around a curve and it went away and stayed away for the remaining 10 miles to work. Came back periodicallly as before on the way home. The pull was to the right. Everyone said it's probably the right side. Last night I swapped out the right side half shaft. So what's left? The left side half shaft. So I put the shaft that was on the right on the left and BINGO. The problems has gone away (so far, I put about 5 miles on the car afterwards).

And I pulled the power steering/alternator belt and it still does it. Actually more severe. I guess tomorrow night I swap out the other half shaft.

Well, it's not the CV joint/halfshaft. I replaced the right side and it still does it. I was convinced that was going to be it. Guess I'll see what the local dealer thinks tomorrow.

Not tie rods. Nothing loose in front end. Car just went thru PA state inspection 2 weeks ago. Tires are 3 or 4 years old but still in good condition. Stored properly when off the car. How about dirty power steering fluid? Anyone ever change theirs? Or better yet, bad/binding outer CV joint (yes all the boots are intact)? At low speed it seems to occur with the frequency of the tire rotation. And it always twitches to the right. I think tonight I'll swap out the right side half shaft before I even start on the steering system.

Definitely not wheels or tires. I have two other snow tires, exact same size and tread depth. Swapped them and it still does it. Driving down the 4 lane 55 mph and it almost wants to yank the wheel out if your hand. Comes and goes, will happen 3 or 4 times in a mile. Also happens at 15 mph on a side street.

91 Legacy, 240,000 on steering rack, 180,000 on power steering pump. Driving down the road, in town, 35-40 mph and it pulls/twitches one direction or the other for 1/2 second then is okay. On one stretch of road, I took my hands off the wheel for 5 seconds and just watched it twitch back and forth. Doesn't do it all the time. First started 2 weeks ago when I put the snow tires on. I thought I failed to tighten the lug nuts. Hasn't acted up for the last several days until today. Fluid level in PS is okay. Seems like a surge in hydraulic fluid? Anyone else experience this? I've got to take the car on a 100 mile trip tonight

If you unbolt the line from the caliper, you'll have to anneal the copper washers if you plan on re using them (there's 2, one will stick to the caliper and you might not even realize it's there). If you unscrew the hose from the metal line, you may have issues after 8 years getting them off without rounding the flats and have a real mess. You can still bleed the system regardless. I wouldn't disconnect and take the risk of introducing dirt into the open system either. It's so much easier to cut the metal bracket and bend half of it out of the way and keep the system closed.

I've got a 90 Loyale. Bought it with 134,000 miles and it read slightly above zero at idle when hot. I said "we'll drive it till it stops". At 165,000 it's still going strong with no indicated problems. It only shows about 35 lbs max when hot at 4000 RPM.

I DO NOT understand the people that suggest this method and think it is very bad advise. The objective is to replace any/all fluid and/or air that is in the line between the master cylinder and slave cylinder. If you have the bleeder open and press on the brake pedal, fluid/air will be moved thru the line. When you release the pedal without closing the bleeder you draw fluid an/or air back in to the line. If conversely you do as I have been taught and do, you draw NOTHING back into the line which should be your objective. Procedure: With bleeder closed, pump the pedal 3-4 times and hold it. You've now pressurized the line. Slowly open the bleeder until the brake pedal goes to the floor. Close the bleeder. You've now moved a "section" of fluid and/or air completely out of the system and drawn nothing back in. Repeat this several times until no air bubbles come out (or the fluid color changes if purging old/dirty fluid out of the system). The longer the line, the further away from the master cylinder ,the more times you will need to repeat this procedure. Out of curiosity, I need to read the manual and see what it says. I can't imagine any manual suggesting what I keep hearing here.

I hadn't touched the block or the engine at all. I had just bought the car 2 months before with 116,000 miles on it (BTW, the engine lasted till 220,000!). I think it was blue silicone. It was 7 years ago so I'm not sure of the color.

FYI. I once had a similiar situation. When I pulled the rocker shaft assembly off, some pieces of blue silicone (from sealing the two halfs of the block together I assume) had broken off and clogged the oil passage way. Cleaned it all up and all was okay!

This may be a little far for you but it's a rally sprint (low mileage prepared rally cars) and a rally cross the next day. http://www.specialstage.com/forum/cgi-bin/DCForumID21/197.html

Did you see any new generation stuff at EZ, older Legacys or anything? TIA.

Come to this event that is soon and relatively close by. It's not a rally race but it's the next best thing to it and you can run with your street car. There will be plenty of people there to talk to that have experience in both types of rallying. There might even be one or 2 pro rally cars there running. http://home.att.net/~pbxrally/

What hits what? valves hit pistons?

Small ball joint seperator work too.

I wouldn't worry so much about the fans as I would what caused it to overheat, and it wasn't the lack of fans unless your outside temperature was over 100 degrees. I've left many Subaru motors idle for long periods of time with the fans not ever running and no overheating. Check the water pump or thermostat.

I've never replaced a cam seal except when doing a complete engine rebuild. I've replaced the crank seal once or twice when they've leaked. I've had several engines with 220,000 miles, 180,000 miles (just last weekend replaced the water pump and t-belt but didn't touch seals) and such that I've owned (or my kids have owned). Just my experience. It's not that big of a job to get in there and do it when need be on a 2.2

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Read this post. I knew these guys would have some ideas. http://www.specialstage.com/forum/cgi-bin/DCForumID7/134.html

But he said "drum brake rear hub"

91 with 220,000 miles before somthing started "rattling" in the bottom end. Never did pull the case apart to see if it was a rod bearing. Another with 180,000 miles with no problems. Another with 160,000 in the rally car was run with no water when the radiator "blew" apart. Tore it down to rebuild and the piston bores all miked to within .0005 of spec. They certainly have the oiling down correctly. Best motor they ever built. BTW, never heard of or had any head gasket problems.

They should. But isn't your Legacy disc brakes? Why whould you want to swap to drums?