Steering slop

[OzarkGuy]

Maybe it's just me since I hadn't owned an older car since my TR6 but I sometimes feel the steering has a bit of play. Thinking about 1-1.5" each side of the wheel before tire movement. Took my truck for some shiny new wheels at the shop and had them check it. Said it's all good. I am wondering if the lower steering shaft might be introducing some play. I did not go out to check it but asking you all, Ya'll, Yoo'se what you think. Perhaps I need to go back inside and take down some Cognac or Buffalo Trace to fuggetaboutit. 

Edit: While I am at the questions stage, Do the steering columns on the manual trasmissioned trucks have an accessory position where the key gets turned one notch counter clockwise from lock to allow the radio to work? Mine doesn't do that...

[ghetdjc320]

Steering play can come from the gearbox itself,  the ball joints, the tie rod ends, the track bar, the control arms, the sway bar, the alignment etc. it’s really just a process of elimination. My current and last MJ had super tight steering with zero play. Not quite on par with electrically assisted rack and pinion but very good overall. But it took a lot of work to get it that way. 
 

The steering column on the manual does have an accessory position that you can access by pushing down on the key release button typically. At least that’s how my 90 and 91 were. 

[AnotherOldJeepGuy]

3 hours ago, OzarkGuy said:

Edit: While I am at the questions stage, Do the steering columns on the manual trasmissioned trucks have an accessory position where the key gets turned one notch counter clockwise from lock to allow the radio to work? Mine doesn't do that...

Just FYI since my 1990 is automatic rather than manual (which may or may not matter here) but my ACC position stopped working when a shop replaced the ignition switch about 10 years ago.  Unfortunately by the time I noticed it (I don't use ACC position much) it was too long a delay from the repair to take it back for rework, at least not on their dime.  The ACC position worked before that.  My suspicion is they installed the wrong switch.

[Pete M]

have someone wiggle the steering wheel back and forth while you crawl underneath and see what's moving and what's not.  

 

just keep in mind that it's a solid axle with a Y linkage and old-school steering box.  it'll never be as crisp as a modern IFS rank-n-pinion car.