a few questions here,

what kind of freeplay are you dealing with? - is it completely free rotating dead play before you "feel" the steering catch?

Your steering box is self centering - there is a system in it which removes freeplay when its centered (when the box is working correctly). - Wrongly setup steering box can throw it off and you end up with excess play.

This type of steering box has some play in it compared to rack and pinion, so dont compare the two (if you are) - but that freeplay is not dead fish freeplay. Its more of the combined clearances of all the parts that mesh and work in the gearbox.

if you have the dead freeplay - its time for a new box, dont try to take up the slack from the top screw - Its provided for the mechanic who is building/rebuilding the steering gearbox.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)