play in the steering wheel

[western uk]

How much play do you guys have ? funny vibrations felt at various speeds ? What gets loose up front first ?

[jaky cakes]

steering in a 4x4 will always feel vague or delayed compared to a normal car due to profile of the tyres and chunky tread also will not help.
2nd gen surfs use a steering box which can wear over time to give free play in steering - but can be adjusted/tightened to a certain extent.
then you have all the usual suspects - ball joints / link rods / bearings to consider - and wheel balance.
It's just a case of identifying or ruling out possible causes. - does your vibration happen at a certain speed / turning a certain direction or driving on a certain road surface - i know mine feels awful on newly laid smooth tarmac and generally handles like a tug boat.

[dieselboy]

My whole truck used to vibrate at around 75mph. Got the tracking done and it's as smooth as anything now.
The pitman arm had play so that was done. Truck drove like a brand new car afterwards.

[Wolfracer]

Do you remember how BA out the A team used to drive his van - straight road and a quarter turn each way??

Mines the same. need to take up the slack before changing direction... mucho fun on the motorway, into a corner, fine, then straighten-takeup slack-correct oversteer and carry on. Luckily I work 2 miles from home.... Will need to get it sorted before the anual pilgrimage to Newquay next year though....
I'm thinking steering box, steering idler, then bushes and bj's.

[KERRSURF]

Steering idler bushes are cheapest and easiest to do first, then try other things like balljoints etc if it doesn't cure it.
Having the steering geometry properly set up makes a huge difference too.

[western uk]

Yeah sometimes i get a small vibration through the steering as i accelerate ,no pulls to the side. Running on Bridgestones road tyres at moment good handling and feel smooth on most surfaces.

[Wolfracer]

Yeah sometimes i get a small vibration through the steering as i accelerate ,no pulls to the side. Running on Bridgestones road tyres at moment good handling and feel smooth on most surfaces.

In a straight line, vibrations at slower speeds, would indicate you have little play in the steering - (if there was play, it would take up the vibrations). I'd be looking more towards tracking and wheel balancing.
Scrubbing/vibration might be more obvious on smoother, dry surfaces as grip is increased.

[Hazzo]

Used to do it on mine till I had the balljoints done, when it happens now its telling me the tyres need some air. H