I agree with what @tom3 said. Get under there, all weight on the ground, have someone move the steering wheel from 3 to 9 and look for the slop. Also, floor jack under lower control arm close to ball joint and lift tire off ground about 2" and then use long pry bar to lift up and down and watch ball joints for slop. Look at pitman arm mount area at steering gear for gear splined shaft slop when wiggling steering wheel.
