Hello, on driving my 73 with P/steering, i have found rather excessive play. When the engine is off (or running for that matter too) and feeling the steering column input shaft, there is a lot of loose slack turning it , maybe about 5-7 degrees, when holding and rotating the column shaft with fingers and thumb. I have tried adjusting the sector shaft nut by exactly following the manual (which is the same as the Sticky theory given above). However i found it to be adjusted up tight. I also found no backlash at all in the steering gear arm (Pitman Arm) when it was backed off, as described in the manual.
Does anyone know where this input shaft play come from? and how it can be gotten rid of? Or is it just normal wear, and indicates the box is worn?
Thanks for help