James, it's kinda hard to quantify the amount of play with the engine running and the box pressurized, but this is what I found just now;
- with the engine turned OFF, there is 1/2 inch left and 1/2 inch right of pretty easy free play. Then it toughens up quite a bit, indicating the tires are resisting. This is considered normal in the service manual, and mine has been about that way since new.
- with the engine running, there is an immediate resistance to turning the wheel, no real freeplay at all. BUT... the resistance increases linearly through about that same 1/2 inch until it noticeably tightens up as it does with the engine off. You can visually see the wheels move when turning the wheel left and right 1/2 inch (1" total). When driving, there is zero sensation of any play at all.
So, it's probably the same sensation you describe on your other car - virtually no freeplay.

Mine is a '91 SE with 240k miles. I did tear the unit down about 8 years ago to repair a seal, and I adjusted the preload torque to factory specs while in there. Kinda fun, set up a little lever arm with a specific weight on the end to measure the release torque - I saw Ed on Wheeler Dealers do the exact same thing a few weeks ago.

So, in summary - you got a loose box.

DG