Thanks for the warm welcome, and good to see a lot of local-ish folks.
First chance to get a helper AND daylight at the same time..... just checked, and the rag joint is solid as can be. No slop whatsoever in the steering shaft. Drag link.... kind of another story. I can grab the adjuster sleeve and it turns on one end. Pretty rusty, and the joints are a tad loose/turn easily, so I'll just replace that when I swap out the high steer arm.
What DID look out of sorts though.... the steering box. As the Mrs was turning the wheel back and forth, I could see the shaft (that the pitman arm is on) slide up going one direction, and then pop down when turning back the other way.
Previous owners supposedly replaced it, though obviously not real recently. Guessing a "reman'd" unit, where they stuffed new seals in with worn out guts, and just sent it? Or maybe someone tried to adjust it and now it's totally shot. Blah. Well.... that's on the short list now. Off to shop for a (hopefully) decent replacement.
I won't be surprised if I find a worn ball joint, but hopefully that's the bulk of the issue. Fits with the wife's description of how it feels. Hold a little wheel pressure left, and it runs straight. Let the wheel move to the right a bit, and off the truck goes in that direction until you coax it back. Doesn't do the same to the left.
Other than me only fixing the "not fun"/non-cosmetic things and ignoring her wish list of the Dually conversion, big mean bumpers, shiny things..... the Mrs LOVES her new Beastie.
She said it's been a while since she drove something she LOVED. "Big, Loud, Nasty" and she loves it. lol Makes dirty hands and busted knuckles worth it.