I've got a boat on wheels!

I checked the bushes and they seem fine as there's no body movement independent of the suspension. It has been fitted with aftermarket springs and shocks none of which are leaking so they have been changed but I'm not saying they're perfect. It needs to be ok on the road because to get up to the mountain there's 40k of country road to go on before we hit gravel and I'm not tearing it up on the highway either. When I get better (I have the mother of all colds atm) I will get under it and check it out. I just feel it needs to be a stiffer and the steering less vague. I think I will get it checked out professionally as well just to make sure. My wife doesn't want a bar of it now, it scared her so much she doesn't think it's safe! Anyway we shall see if there are suspension components that need replacing and go from there. Thanks for the replies.

Hey Richzx

One thought take it to a pedders store and get a 14 point safety check done it cost $14 and they will give you a full list of stuffed componets and the price to fix them just make sure you are sitting down but once you get the list tell them you will think about it and never go back. Plus a real bonus they will put a pedders sticker on the back of your car without asking, but its a free sticker.

Cheers
Kris

Can't agree with the swaybar suggestions if you are planning any off road use, they are designed to limit relative articulation across an axle so are a liability off-road.
I was driven to Tullamarine Airport in a brand-new rangie in 1977, could not believe the amount of body roll in the bends, yet they were widely acknowledged as the best suspensioned vehicle even then. The body roll was something that you got used to and you just put aside the preconceptions you had from other vehicle types.
That is no longer the case, even my 1988 RR handles superbly on bitumen with minimal body roll when the steering components are in good nick; at present it has numerous worn-out bushes up front and is almost unuseable.
Checking for steering slack will only identify worn pitman arm and tie rod ends and panhard bushes. The front and rear control arm bushes (both ends) and the rear axle ball joint will need closer inspection and are probably your trouble areas.

Well I got under it today and the big nut under the steering box is tight. The tie rod ends are stuffed so I've ordered those, and I reckon the shocks are gone as well and the passenger side ball joint needs replacing so I may as well do both. Are these hard to replace or fairly straightforward once I get into it? Where's a good place to get parts from at reasonable prices?

Good shocks will transform the handling on rough roads. The problem is that people want comfort. Generally speaking you can have comfort or you can have handling when playing with these live axled trucks.

Handling wise for a 4WD, I reckon the Classic Rangie is fantastic,
once you get used to the super-light steering and body roll.

Once it settles into it's door-handle-scraping cornering angle around a bend, it's very controllable and predictable and they can hang on quite well, tyres not withstanding.

Enter slow. Accelerate through while dialling on the lock. Ease off the throttle when you feel the understeer. Ignore the body-roll, protests from passengers and clunking of (rear passengers') heads when straightening out of the corner.

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Originally Posted by richzx

Well I got under it today and the big nut under the steering box is tight. The tie rod ends are stuffed so I've ordered those, and I reckon the shocks are gone as well and the passenger side ball joint needs replacing so I may as well do both. Are these hard to replace or fairly straightforward once I get into it? Where's a good place to get parts from at reasonable prices?

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Check for movement in all of the control-arm bushes with a tyre lever or similar, don't forget the ball joint on top of the rear axle. did you check the ball joint on the pitman arm (the other end of the thing held on by the big nut you mentioned)?
You can't get any part for any vehicle at reasonable prices:( Les Richmond have a good range if they will return your calls (still waiting for a quote on parts after 4 weeks). Graham Cooper's give good service and mail order, can't speak for their prices. Lots of people on here have mentioned TR Spares, have not tried them yet myself.