Tech Team
Stan
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 469
Re: Loose steering
If you get immediate response at the pitman, everything from there back to the wheel is fine. If not, hold the rag joint and wiggle the wheel to identify the source of the play. If it all seems tight then the slop is in the box, you can try tightening the adjusting lock nut/allen head screw at the top of the box, it may help somewhat but won't cure a worn box. Best way to set that lash in the box is test drive and tighten until the wheels no longer return to centre, then back it off until they do, that will be the sweet spot.
But if you have good direct response at the pitman, you've got worn components downstream of the steering box, which is good, since all that stuff is relatively inexpensive and easy to upgrade.