Hello, first post here as I'm a fairly new owner of a 2002 2WD 4.3 Blazer. I recently changed the shocks and bearings because of a bad vibration. It's always had play in the steering wheel and I checked the ball joints, tie-rods, sway bar, idler arm and everything seemed fine. But it still takes about 2 inches of moving the steering wheel before the wheels actually turn, recently it started to click in the steering wheel when hitting small bumps and now clicks when the wheel isn't actually being turned. I'm not sure if it's the steering box and pitman arm because I've read numerous different reasononings like a Julep joint, which I have NEVER heard of or even know what it is. I'm going to replace the sway bar, idler arm and tie-rods this weekend. Has anyone else had this issue? Pitman arm/steering box or is it actually the idler and sway? Thanks for the help!

 

Have you checked the rag-joint?