bootstrap loader + gzip 1.3.5 --> huge image!?

[Robert Zach]

hi list!

I am using the xilinx git tree with the included bootstrap loader.
Everthing works fine when i use binutils-2.16.1-gcc-3.4.6-uClibc-0.9.29.

But when useing binutils-2.18.50-gcc-4.2.0-uClibc-0.9.29  (generated 
with buildroot) i get the following problem:

At the end of the kernel build process the vmlinux image gets compressed 
(for the bootstrap loader).
something like:
gzip -f -9 < arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.bin > 
arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.gz.$$
when i compiled the kernel with binutils-2.16.1-gcc-3.4.6-uClibc-0.9.29 
the resulting image size is smaller then the original and everything 
works (the bootstrap loader uncompresses, the kernel boots, ..)

But when using the binutils-2.18.50-gcc-4.2.0-uClibc-0.9.29 
cross-toolchain i get the following:
du arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.bin
1264    arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.bin
gzip -f -9 < arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.bin > 
arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.gz.$$
du arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.gz.$$
3640    arch/ppc/boot/images/vmlinux.gz

The resulting huge zImage.elf file does not work (the bootstraploader 
stops somewhere early).
Its the same for all other toolchains i tryed using binutils > 2.16.

what does gzip do?
I use the following version
gzip --version
gzip 1.3.5
(2002-09-30)
Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation
Copyright 1992-1993 Jean-loup Gailly

Does anybody know this problem?
any suggestions for a solution.

thanks in advanced!
greets!
robert