[AirSpeed]

When I bought my 72 GMC 4X4 it had a lot of play in the steering, I inspected every joint in the steering and found that the tie rod ends where actually loose, I pulled the cotter pins and tightened them up and what a difference! I was really surprised how such a little bit of play in the tie rod end joint could affect the amount of play at the steering wheel. I suggest you do as Lee H said and have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth and watch each joint and component in the steering, even the smallest amount of play will be multiplied many times at the steering wheel.