1997 DI, 125K, stock all around.

I have had my D1 for a little less than a year, and I really like it. It does amazing in the snow, started with no complaints down to -12, and drives nicely.

I feel I have had it long enough to 'know' it as a vehicle, and I have two questions:

1. The gas mileage is atrocious!! I am having trouble breaking 10mpg in the city. I have new plug wires, changed the HG, and diff fluid. compression is good, and I am not sure if this is normal or not. I have read the mileage threads and this number seems low to me. It does seem like the tranny slips a little, like it is losing its ability to grab, but i am not sure. I havent t changed the fluid, maybe I should.

2. When you hit the gas or let off the gas, you can feel the diffs turn the steering wheel. I can't remember which does what, but the steering wheel wants to turn, and the truck doesn't drive straight. I changed all the tie rods, and that helped. I changed the shocks, and that helped a lot, but it is still noticeable.

Any help appreciated.

 

1) Yep, my city driving mileage sucks too.
2) This is concerning and weird. When's the last time you changed the diff oil or the swivel ball lube? Also, a similar "shimmy" is a symptom of failing frame bushings on the trailing arms. I would definitely check those.

 

When was the last time you had a alignment done?

 

I don't know if it has ever had an alignment, but it tracks straight when you drive.

I know I need to do the swivel ball preloads in the front, because the fronts are really loose.

I have changed the diff fluid, when I bought it.
I'll bet the trail arm bushings are bad, but honestly, I never thought of that. I guess that's why you ask.

thanks.

 

Pulling to the side when coasting is often a sign of a sticking caliper piston. On the side that it's pulling towards.
Low pressure in the tire will cause it also.

 

I used my digital IR thermometer to "shoot" the brake rotors. The sticking caliper was making one rotor hotter than the other one on same axle. Went out and drove, coasted to a stop without brakes somewhere safe. Got out and took the quick shots. Seems like mine was 40F higher, but that could vary.

 

I think I know what you are talking about with the brake piston, and that may be, but the car has a very low rolling friction, like if you put it in D on a flat surface and let it roll very slowly, nothing seems to be snagging/slowing it down at all.

It seems like the resistance is related to the driveline, because it turns opposite ways when slowing down vs speeding up.

I think the trail arms might be the ticket, but I am learning lots of good stuff.