Hello Tom, et all.  My '90 behaves like Tom's '89 Syncro.  I don't 
have oversize tires  (I have LT195 75R14... a little bigger than 
stock), and find that although steering effort is higher nearer the 
full lock positions, it isn't what I would call "high" or "hard" .. 
just a little more resistance.

Harry

> Diff lock off: No shuddering or binding. Steering effort is high 
> toward the stops, which I always thought was due to the expanded 
> footprint of the oversize tires. Other than that, nice smooth circles.
> 
> Diff lock on: Shudders, enough that I did not want to keep on doing 
> this to the vehicle. Shuddering definately decreases as I approach 
> straight line. No visible tire scuffs  on the asphalt, but it is
> not a dry surface.
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Burnaby, British Columbia CANADA
'90 Syncro Westfalia  email: hyates@bcit.bc.ca
'87 Golf Diesel       WWW:   http://www.bcit.bc.ca/~hyates