Smiley,

Reading your post I had a couple of quick thoughts....Oh yeah it also the first time in a long time that I have been back on the board....

First of all, it occurs to me that suspension systems are just that, systems. Not wanting to over simplify as I am hardly a suspension expert. Some things you may want to consider.

Is the tire pressure the same in all four tires? Differences in pressures between the the front and rear can feel pretty strange if the pressures are very different.

Also, I would tend to think that typically the front suspension is the first thing to get squirrelly with age and the kind of wear & tear that wheeling puts on a vehicle.

Given the number of parts in the front I would start there.

That being said, are you sure that its not the usual suspects
(Tie rod ends, Ball joints, idler or pitman arm play or the centerlink?)

Then I would jack up my vehicle leave the wheel on and spin it...make sure rotation is not wobbly as in bad or loose wheel bearings.

Then grab the wheel top and bottom and pull hard towards you checking for play. Repeat this from the sides, grabbing the front and back of the tire. It would help if you can get some assistance (another set of eyes) checking the parts as you pull on them.

Also take a long pipe/pole slide it under the wheel and lift up. Checking ball joints as you lift.

Once you have ruled out any obvious play or badly worn parts in the front do this in the rear. Jack the vehicle up from the bumper or frame leaving the suspension hanging.

Long pipes work wonders here. Wedge one end under the tire and lift from the back and try this from the side as well. checking for play in the spring pack or bushings, loose U-bolts, broken center pins and the like....

Just my $.02, also I had a busted rear spring which I did not notice until Joe D pointed it out to me....then like an idiot a light bulb came on.....explaining the bad handling.

Last but not least....if desparation sets in...load the suspension in the back....sandbags, feed grain sacks, something heavy right over the rear axle...drive....have someone else who owns a rodeo drive it and see what you think, compare notes....

Last but not least, I forgot to mention...I agree with Joe (bigpoppax2) I would suspect the spring packs. expecially if you see gaps in the pack.

Matt