I have a 1996 f150 single cab short bed 2wd. There is some play in the steering wheel. I have already replaced the pitman arm. Just want to know if anyone knows what specific part it may be so that i don't have to redo my whole steering system. Thanks

 

have someone turn the steering wheel while you look at the tie rod, if you cant see any loose joints then it probably has something to do with your cv shaft or steering column

 

If you can get it up on jack stands it will be easier to find loose components. The usual suspects are the pitman and idler arms followed by the tie rod ends, ball joints, and steering box. Don't forget to check the rag joint on the column under the hood and the mounting area of the box on the frame.
regards
rikard

 

have a friend jerk the steering wheel back and forth. and watch for the drivers side frame rail to move. fords are bad for the rivets in the cross member stretching out the holes and letting it move.

 

I have the same problem. Truck drives great, turns good and tracks fine. The only problem is that from dead center the steering wheel has about 1.5" of slop before the wheels move.
I've looked at everything under there and pretty well ruled out everything but the place where the rag joint couples with the steering box and the steering box itself.

If you go under the hood and grab the steering column, try rotating it and see if the pitman arm moves. That is what I did and I can feel the play somewhere in the SB or where the rag joint couples with the SB...



Under that plastic cover there is a rag joint that you can see once you move the cover up. However, I don't know yet how to remove the rag joint......

 

Why did you change the pitman arm? It's a non-wearable item. And our trucks don't have an idler arm.

 

If it's in the steering box there is an adjustment screw to take it out,unless it's really bad you should be able to adjust it.

But i would check everything else real good before I would start adjusting on the box.

 

X 2

Plus my understanding is you only need to turn that adjusting bolt on the steering box
like a ¼ turn at a time.

 

Found the problem, it's the rag joints they need to be replaced. And by the way the pitman arm is a wearable part

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No it is not. They may sell it but it does not have a wearable joint on it. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...-Arm/_/N-8oxl3