1997 Maverick 2.7 TD common ball joint and bush wear?

[GHDirect]

Hi all
I am pleased to say my 1997 2.7 TD SWB Maverick passed its MoT so it getting some TLC. I am not an expert so asking members for their experience on "joints and bushes wear" on these vehicles.

As it passed MoT by local village garage I suggest there are no obvious joint or bush issues. However when you drive it along country lanes and the odd pot holes you can hear the rear underneath working hard. At the front end, steering seems O/K but overall it wonders off track alittle pending road surface.

I've owned it 3 years with 108000 to date. Tyres at front are AT Grabbers.
Rear Grabbers wide mud terrain. When purchased I fitted new shocks, disc and pads and more recently replaced the front rollbar joints to LH & RH wishbones.

Are there some common joints/bushes that are worth looking at or replacing at this stage in its life. Also how long do shocks last?

Regards

GHDirect

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Hi mate, if you are suffering from vague steering it may be the joints in the steering mechanism, there are a few of them and a little play in each adds up to make a difference :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

Well these motors are not sports cars, handling can be a bit odd at times, if MOT did not pick anything up then I would be thinking when did you last change your rear diff oil, if it is well old then the diff becomes like a locked one, good for off road but not good on the tarmac, Rick

 

[macabethiel]

If you have a LSD use the right oil as well.

 

[GHDirect]

Diff oil changed

Thanks all for feedback.

I can say I did change the diff oil last year having picked up a tip from the forum.