When driving I can move my steering wheel a solid 1 inch both ways before the vehicle starts to move. Is there anyway I can possibly fix this and lessen the play?

 

Visual inspection of front end should diagnose it. Have you hit any big bumps or anything that could have possibly messed up the steering? mines the same way i have yet to fix it. check bushings and make sure everything is aligned.

 

Thanks I'll check it out. I don't recall hitting any bumps but could drifting in the snow cause this? Because I do that... alot

 

Try tightening the steering box gears. I did it to mine and it helped. They can be tightened with a little nut right on top steering box. Just don't go to tight or the gears will grind and kill themselves.

 

If the steering box is the problem it's already dead.

 

Not necessarily, although yes it is possible the box is dead. If the gears have even wear from 18 years of driving it should be just fine to tighten them up with everything else being fine. Anyway it is free to try and if it works it works and you drive another day without having to fully replace the box.

 

The problem is when it's "adjusted tight enough" for straight ahead, it's way too tight to make a turn. The over center adjustment is for brand new assembly use only.

 

How do you tell if the steering box is dead?

 

This is NOT what you should do. If it were ever to be even tried it should be removed and placed on the bench to check it, still not a good idea if that worn.


Bingo!

 

Im just saying I tried it and it worked perfectly fine. I didn't tighten it all the way down, just enough to pick up the play a little. I would go a tiny bit and then test drive it to be sure i didn't go to much, which i know I didn't.