72 f100 lot of play in the tseering?

[harveyracing06]

i just got a 72 ford f100 the steering has a good 1/4 to 1/2 turn in it of play , prev. owner said thats just how old truck do. would like the steering to be tighter and i know the rag joint needs replaced but still has alot of play any easy ways to fix this problem? thanx

[fordman]

the rag joint is going to take most of the play out of it for you. after that it is probably steering linkage king pins and or steering box wear. sometimes steering box wear can be adjusted out of the boxes. there are also bearings in the steering column but they really don't have much to do with the wheel turning back and forth before the wheels actually turn.
i guess after the rag joint is put in. you would want to jack up the truck and have someone turn the wheel while you watch the linkages turn. as if they turn right away or after the column moves a slight bit. then while the tires are off the ground you will want to shake the tire in and out at the top and bottom to determine king pin play. after all of these things are checked and or replaced / repaired. you can try adjusting the steering box. there is a bolt with a nut on top of the 3 boxes available in these trucks. but you loosen the nut and turn the slotted bolt. to raise or lower the steering gear main shaft to mesh it better with the side shaft coming from the column. there isn't much adjusting that should be done. it just centers the two shaft gears so they mesh closer together.

[harveyracing06]

thanks for the help!