My new-to-me 85 GL DR Wagon has a couple issues making me nervous:

 

1)The main thing is when I get up around 60mph or better and steer to the left, i get this big scary DDDDDDDDD vibration like I'm gonna lose that wheel. I just changed that axle, and that seems good, the PO said he had the struts done, the ball joints seem good, steering is tight, bearings seem okay, at low speed I get just the occasional clunk on decelleration, or turning, rolling back down a driveway something that only happens when everything is just so...What am I missing? 

 

I mercilessly drove this thing home at 75 for 3 hrs, didn't even notice anything until I took a fast ramp -now that I'm aware of it, it seems floppy but only under the right circumstances.

 

2) The steering column seems to be sloppy - I noticed the same thing on an 86 wagon a friend recently bought -only His is worse, almost like the tilt lock mech is loose, but that all seems pretty well tied together. Is this characteristic of these cars?

 

3) I am new to the DR trans, so it is difficult for me to tell whether I am in Low or High range and the "low" indicator seems intermittent -it will sort of blink when I engage it but not stay lit -(at least I think it is engaged) Could this just be some sort of short in the light or is it possibly popping out of Low and into High?

 

Sorry to cram so many Q's into one post, but I know this awesome forum will get me straightened out!

Does seam to understeer ?? I had a issue where I had vibration and clunk while driving.. When turning fast, it would push to the outside...like it was sliding. It was loose bolts connecting strut to the knuckle. Check bolts make sure they are tight, then look for other issues.

Got it -the ball joint was shot. Changed that out and things are good & tight now.

 

still have slop in the steering column and the 4wd Low light won't stay lit.

 

Any help is appreciated

You'll be able to tell if you're in lo or high just by how the car drives. There is an unmistakable difference in gearing. In lo you will be redlining first gear at about 5mph.

 

The light flickering is symptom of a loose wire or dirty contacts.

Lo range switch is mounted under the center console.  It probably isn't adjusted right, or is loose, or has something blocking it (gum wrappers, coins, hair ties, old potato chips, etc....)

Thanks for the help!

 

Had a bad ball joint, got that out, that took care of the vibration.

 

Got the little position switch for the DR tweaked -and Yes, I can definitely tell Lo from Hi driving -and Love it!

Went for a little romp in Lo and had a blast -luckily I mad it home because...

 

...When  I put the lift in, the other CV axle puked its guts so I am getting that today -the lift is awesome but I haven't driven it yet...

(pics to come in member's rides thread}

 

Still would like to know if others' Gen 3 cars have this steering wheel slop...?

I had an 85 wagon that had a floppy steering column like the tilt mechanism was worn out. This was caused by an obese driver using the steering wheel to hoist themself in and out of the car.

My 87gl has a sloppy column as well. I've gotten used to it but I remember being wary of it at first.

I had an 85 wagon that had a floppy steering column like the tilt mechanism was worn out. This was caused by an obese driver using the steering wheel to hoist themself in and out of the car.

 

That is exactly what it feels like, but the tilt mech seems fine. Now that you mention it, it is much worse in my friends' 86 -and his drivers' seat is much more worn out as well...

 

It's not very noticeable when driving, but when sitting there. The play is nowhere past the dash -the shaft and knuckle seem good.