Loose stearing or what???

[GoOutSideAndPlay]

Ok, so Im suffering from some level of loose steering components somewhere or I've been driving IFS too long. I've had my rig for a little over a year now and it's always acted like this, but I thought I'd bring it up. My wife's Tundra has very very precise steering, i.e. NO play in steering at all. So when she drives my rig she complains that it feels like the steering wheel is loose. My assesment is that there is play somewhere downstream of the PS box but i've beating and wiggled and shoved everything down there and cant find anything loose or even movable. Is this just how solid live axels feel all the time and I've just been driving IFS too long?

I searched the threads and nothing like this jumped out at me.

Thanks in advance for any insight, advice, humorus flames, technical proweress....

Chris

P.S. trip out to Moab kicked A$$. Didnt do anything to scary as we had a stock jeep and ranger in tow, but we manged to beat em up a little on Prittechet arch. Sorry we missed any other LCers out there. did get to say hi to one other guy in a big black LC at the trail head from Prittechet, but lost the paper i wrote his mud name on. Sorry man, if you read this give me a shout!

 

[Darwood]

From my experience, I don't think you will ever get the precise feel of rack and pinion steering (especially after lifting), however if you have more than about a 1/2 inch of play in the wheel I would start to look at worn components.

 

[GoOutSideAndPlay]

So new aspect to the problem that may make sence. On cold morning when the vehicle is first started, the power steering pump is complaining. I can hear it straining and feel the differance in the wheel. Once the engine compartment gets toasty the sound and feel go away. Power steering pump?

 

[Tools R Us]

So new aspect to the problem that may make sence. On cold morning when the vehicle is first started, the power steering pump is complaining. I can hear it straining and feel the differance in the wheel. Once the engine compartment gets toasty the sound and feel go away. Power steering pump?

When was the fluid last changed? If it's been a while a good flush would be my first attempt at fixing the problem.