Firstly, the steering wheel should be stopped from spinning freely with the shaft disconnected so as not to break the clockspring. A bungee through the bottom of the steering wheel and attached to a pedal would do that.
There's more than enough play in your steering gear to cause concern. There really shouldn't be any noticeable play.
It doesn't look like there is any in/out play on the input shaft. Adjusting the input thrust bearing preload can probably be done on the vehicle, but the pitman preload should be done in a vise ideally so it does not get over tightened.
To adjust the input preload, the lock ring should be backed off and the cap should be screwed in till it stops, then be backed off half an inch, measured at the outside edge of the cap, before the lock ring is tightened back down.
If there is no play in the input. The wear in in the sector shaft gears, which ideally would be done in a vise.
The nut in the cap above the pitman arm would need to be undone and the stud screwed in to remove play. If done on the vehicle, it could result in overtightening the stud and make things worse.
To adjust that properly, the input shaft should be turned lock to lock, then centered. Rotational torque should be measured either side of center, and the stud screwed in until the over center torque is just a few in.lb more than that measured either side of center.
Steering section of the 98 FSM attached so you can see what's involved.
There's more than enough play in your steering gear to cause concern. There really shouldn't be any noticeable play.
It doesn't look like there is any in/out play on the input shaft. Adjusting the input thrust bearing preload can probably be done on the vehicle, but the pitman preload should be done in a vise ideally so it does not get over tightened.
To adjust the input preload, the lock ring should be backed off and the cap should be screwed in till it stops, then be backed off half an inch, measured at the outside edge of the cap, before the lock ring is tightened back down.
If there is no play in the input. The wear in in the sector shaft gears, which ideally would be done in a vise.
The nut in the cap above the pitman arm would need to be undone and the stud screwed in to remove play. If done on the vehicle, it could result in overtightening the stud and make things worse.
To adjust that properly, the input shaft should be turned lock to lock, then centered. Rotational torque should be measured either side of center, and the stud screwed in until the over center torque is just a few in.lb more than that measured either side of center.
Steering section of the 98 FSM attached so you can see what's involved.
