Shuddering sucotash!!

[TURBOV8R]

New to the forum as well as 1st time owner.Wifey and I picked up an '87 WE4,and have been noticing on downshifts slow speed the car seems to shudder,light acceleration can barely feel it and at hard accel not there at all.Possible that a fluid change could(?) lessen or remedy?Car has been idle for @7mnths w/ 80,000 on the clock.Any ideas would be helpful

 

[chris718]

Welcome to the forum.We need a better description if you want assistance.

 

[TURBOV8R]

Did some further digging,and noticed that the rear pinion bearing has ALOT of play in it, groaning on turns, as well as a leak not found on the 1st inspection.have only had the car for 3 days so new things pop up like this.in a nutshell,feels under light throttle that the motor's misfiring(but it's not) not giving a smooth ride and lurching forward like your on a stagecoach Sound like a rear issue? or a combo of both?

 

[mikestertwo]

Did some further digging,and noticed that the rear pinion bearing has ALOT of play in it, groaning on turns, as well as a leak not found on the 1st inspection.have only had the car for 3 days so new things pop up like this.in a nutshell,feels under light throttle that the motor's misfiring(but it's not) not giving a smooth ride and lurching forward like your on a stagecoach Sound like a rear issue? or a combo of both?

By a lot of play in the rear pinion bearing do you mean side play or rotational play? If it's side play I wouldn't drive it anymore until I opened it up for inspection. If it's rotational play could be normal or excessive wear on the side gears or axle splines. The groaning on turns could be 1) low on oil. 2) wrong type of oil. 3) no additive in the oil. 4) excessively worn posi unit. The lurching could be something binding in the rear or maybe your torque converter is locking as soon as you hit 2nd gear. Bad TCC solenoid in trans?

 

[TURBOV8R]

Really appreciate the input thanks!but I topped off the rear w/type c 90wt w/ additive to be safe,took 1/2 a pint.Are the 200's the same set-up as the 700-r4's w/ the solonoid harness?trans shifts firm and at the correct speeds as my 700(98' Yukon 4x4) and actually will bust the tires loose on 2nd.As far as the rear has side play as well as horizontal(in&out)more than my rear in 4x4 Yukon w/ 160,000mls.Have no problem addressing issues but don't wanna bark up the wrong tree out of the gate.

 

[mikestertwo]

As far as the rear has side play as well as horizontal(in&out)more than my rear in 4x4 Yukon w/ 160,000mls.Have no problem addressing issues but don't wanna bark up the wrong tree out of the gate.

You shouldn't have any side play or end play. I wouldn't drive the car until the rearend issues are resolved. You don't want the rear locking on you at 60mph

 

[Steve V]

If you are talking about the pinion having play,thats's pretty common with these cars and isn't that hard of a fix. New bearings and a crush sleeve.

 

[TURBOV8R]

Well,it's confirmed the pinion brg.went the way of the dinosaurs,going under the wrench next week.Thanks again for all your inputs!!