steering problems

[Buddy]

Ok I did a check on here to see what is up with all the play I have in my steering wheel. every post I read said to do a dry run with the truck, get a buddy to move the wheel and see whats what. i do this only to find that all my parts seem good. I have replaced the two tie rods and my ball joinnts all are good. My Drag links (think thats right) both seem to have no play. Here is my problem when I drive my wheel can move almost a 1/4 turn before anything happens. I can wiggle the wheel side to side on the highway without it even moving the truck. Truck has a 6" lift and 35" tires. I have a raised steering arm (again not sure if thats the proper name ) that i needed to but to correct the angle. So the only thing I never thought to check was the shaft going to the box, is it possible that all this play is in the box??? When I had the box of for the truck rebuild it all seemed tight, turn the shaft at the end and it all seemed tight....I am at a bit of a loss. really takes the fun out of driving my truck. Anything else I should do before i spend almost 400 on a steering box?

[Irish_Alley]

if you see the intermediate shaft coming from the steering column to the box moves and the pitman arm coming out of the steering box doesnt then look towards the box but i doubt it. hows the rag joint ?

[Buddy]

never thought of the rag joint, how would you check that?

[Irish_Alley]

the dry test will work

[Buddy]

i not at the truck right now but if it is the rag joing can you buy another one???

[jaredts]

If you can move the wheel 1/4 turn without any effect on steering then you should be able to spot the problem.  When an assistant moves the wheel that 1/4 turn back and forth with the truck parked, start at the rag joint and work your way down to the box, pitman, etc.  Somewhere there are steering components that don't move and there's your problem.

[Buddy]

The problem seems to be in the colunm itself. Just after the joint ( not the rag) but the joint with the bolt and sleeve closer to the fire wall. There seems to be a lot of play like a bearing or seemthing is shot. I can wiggle the shaft side to side a good .5". There is some kind of 9 clamp looking thing and looks like there should be a bearing in there. Not sure to be truth full!

[Irish_Alley]

shouldn’t be no play shouldn’t be no bearing

[Buddy]

Not sure about the bearing that was a guess but the side to side play is there for sure.

[Irish_Alley]

sounds like junk yard time. just make sure its the same style. if you have to get the other get it all all to the rag joint. you should get it all anyway

[Buddy]

What is involved with switching one out? Is there anything I need to look for when getting one?