Okay so I just got back from running some errands and had a moment before the rain to get under the van and REALLY figure out where the play is coming from. Yesterday I ruled out the rest of the steering system but I had SUCH an awful time getting the rack boot back on w/ clamp that I didn't have the patience to go any further.

So today I discovered that the play really is in the arm or joint ABOVE the bevel gear. The reason i can feel it in the torque shaft is because everything is connected i guess. Anyway I couldn't really verify if it was the U joints with the play or the actual shaft itself, the light was bad but I could swear I could see the shaft itself having play when I moved it. My flashlight is out of batteries and its raining so its hard to see.

I took a pic of the area, not sure of the terms once again. Is there a bushing or something else that would cause the maine shaft from the steering wheel to have play?

You know its funny, when I first started getting steering wheel play a long time ago I initially suspected something more directly related to the steering column. Just a hunch, I think I had a similar problem on another vehicle years ago. But everyone said check your tires, balance, alignment, etc, and then I had two different professionals tell me I had a "bad ball joint" or "bad inner or outer tie rod" even though it wasn't true, now I'm back to the beginning, maybe my hunch was right?

Any thoughts would be great. I just dug out my FSM and will peruse the steering section.

Thanks again,

mark in Maine

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