Posted this on zr2usa.com. Maybe someone here can help out.

I've about had it with the steering on this damn truck. It's been loose since Uwharrie a few years ago, but nothing I couldn't live with. It's been annoying me, so I finally decided to replace some of the components. It looked to me like the play was before the steering box, so I replaced the stock rag joint with the Flaming River U-joint. That helped a little, but there was still play. I had my wife turn the wheel back and forth until she felt resistance. The U-joint was turning the spline it was connected to, but it didn't look like the spline connected to the pitman arm was moving at all. I figured it had to be the steering box. I went ahead and ordered an AC Delco reman for an 88 Monte SS with the quicker ratio from Rock Auto. While I was at it I ordered Moog idler and pitman arms so I could change them when I dropped the box.

Yesterday after work, I went ahead and tore everything down and replaced it all. When I was done I took it for a drive, hoping to enjoy some new feeling steering. Nope. It felt exactly the same. I grabbed the wife and had her move the steering wheel. Same results with the pitman not moving with the top spline. I tried adjusting the play out of it, but the steering wheel won't return to center with the screw tightened enough for there to be almost no play.

Did I maybe get a loose box from them? Or is it possibly something else? The tie rods could probably and are going to be replaced with the HD ones from Synergy, but the looseness is felt way before the tie rods even come into play. I could probably live with it the way it is as long as it doesn't get worse, but I want my steering fixed already. I'm about to just take it to a shop, although I hate doing that. Any thoughts?

 

got to be the steering box. if you are physically seeing the steering shaft turning the box and seeing the pitman arm NOT move then it has to be. i would also question if your frame was bent and maybe giving a illusion that the box isnt turning but im sure you would have noticed that with the box out of there.

 

It has to be the box. I just went through the same thing with my 2001 Blazer Xtreme. Replaced the box and it tracks straight with no slop. It had been driving me crazy trying to hold it steady on the highway.