Steering Column play?

[PhoenixRising01]

'71 C10 L/B. Steering feels excessively loose when driving. Raised hood, found column has approximately an inch free play in both directions. It has P.S. with a booster, which seem to work fine. The play has a tendency to make me a little nervous. I can't remove my eyes from the road (safely) at all. Suggestions?

[bonnieclyde100]

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising01

'71 C10 L/B. Steering feels excessively loose when driving. Raised hood, found column has approximately an inch free play in both directions. It has P.S. with a booster, which seem to work fine. The play has a tendency to make me a little nervous. I can't remove my eyes from the road (safely) at all. Suggestions?

that sounds like a steering box or steering linkage problem not a column problem

[bonnieclyde100]

or does the whole column itself move. there is a bracket and a strap that holds the column from moving . it is mounted under the brake booster where the column exits the cab if they are missing it would move then

[jeffahart]

I think an inch sounds about right, if you are talking about, lets say, the rag joint movement right before the input to steering box. An inch seems about right to me. Where are you measuring. After the motion translates though the gearbox to output, it will be much less than an inch.