I've been fighting a sloppy steering problem with my 92 D250. The little guy has 287,000+ miles on it. I rebuilt the front end a few years ago and put another idler arm and drag link in it a month ago.
The steering was still sloppy so I fiddled with the adjuster on top of the box. The first adjustment was a bit too aggressive once I hit the road so I hit a parking lot and backed it off a bit. There is still almost 30 degrees of slop in the wheel. I can actually feel the steering assist change as I'm bouncing back and forth between steering movements.

I shut the truck off, unlocked the column, and turned the shaft by hand. I could feel it knocking as it hit the end of the slop.

The rag joint is tight and there was no appreciable movement between the shaft and the coupler.

I didn't remove the box and mess with the preload before messing with the adjustment. Is that going to make a difference or is it simply time to get a new box?


I've been avoiding it because I just don't have much spare time and the truck rarely gets driven.

Some of the truck steering chucks were Saginaw, others were Chrysler built. Either way, I'd bet that Firm Feel could help you out if you cannot find a low mile replacement.

I'm sure you made sure the lower coupler just above the box is not internally sloppy. Those things developed excess play quite often over the years.

The diesels have been known to crack the frame where the box mounts.

Also frame rivets get sloppy.

I suggest having a helper rock the steering while you put the old MK 1 eyeball to the parts.

The diesel 4x4s are the trucks that crack the frame. Those trucks have a funky steering box mount that goes to the frame. It's a relatively uncommon failure in a 2wd by what I see.

I've been under the truck checking for slop and do not see the box moving.

Then it's probably the box. The bad is a parts store rebuilt , like a Cardone , is going to be a crapshoot as to if it will be any better than what is on it now.

Yes feets, the 4wd are more common, but at 300k even a 2wd can have problems.

GM trucks are the same way, I've seen several 2wd that cracked the frame.

And I agree with John on the Crapdone boxes.