Thanks for all of your input.

I found the spec that does indeed says that about 1 inch of play at the wheel is normal. The connecting plates before the box look OK.

So let's say I was willing to just replace the box with a new or properly rebuilt unit. Would that fix it, and for how long?

$537 on fastlane + labor (how many hours?) at indy shop doesn't seem like too much to me for normal, responsive, and safe steering.

__________________
==========================
Aaron
'84 300D 267,000 - Running WVO - Rice Bran Oil - Mmmmmm, fishy...
==========================