my truck has tilt wheel and it seems the joints that allow it to tilt have warn out.
my question is can i just replace the joints or does the entire steering rod have to be replaced.. if i recall correctly the steering box doesnt come off of the rod?

If you are saying that the wheel will just move up, down, and side to side, that means that the bolts that hold the column together have come loose. You will need to remove the wheel, turn signal switch, lock cylinder, tilt spring, and the 2 tilt piviots. Then get in there just past the ball joint on the steering shaft and tighten the 4 bolts down there, then reassemble. Might take you about 2-3 hours if you have never done steering column work before. HTH, Korey.

ORIGINAL: Kordog

If you are saying that the wheel will just move up, down, and side to side, that means that the bolts that hold the column together have come loose. You will need to remove the wheel, turn signal switch, lock cylinder, tilt spring, and the 2 tilt piviots. Then get in there just past the ball joint on the steering shaft and tighten the 4 bolts down there, then reassemble. Might take you about 2-3 hours if you have never done steering column work before. HTH, Korey.
EXCELLENT JOB! that's exactly the advice you should have received...now get to work:D

yeah the wheel wobbles all over. it wont go any higher then the tilt wheel will allow. i already pulled most of that stuff because no matter the outcome i knew it had to go. thanks for the help.