slack steering issue

Finally got round to taking the Jimny for a wheel alignment yesterday.

Garage got it on the ramps and said they couldn't track it as there was so much play in the steering

So my question is where to start looking? I have trailgear HD steering bars with new beefy rod ends, HD panard's and all the bushes (everywhere) are superpro. Wheel bearings are about 12 months old, kingpin bearings about 8 months.

Current thinking is its one of these:

1. steering box goosed,
2. wheel bearings,
3. Kingpins and/or bearings

Obviously the 31" tyres wont help as well as the green laning!

Riccy

I would start with lifting the front wheels and systematically feeling for play in the system, this will be easier with an assistant to work the wheels while you're underneath though it is possible on your own.

I'm surprised they didn't have a quick look for you while it was up in the air? Sure a little wiggle about and they could have given you an idea of were the play was?

There is a small amount of "adjustment" using the nut on top of the steering box, technically this is a torque adjustment but it does take out some slack. Do not tighten out all slack though as the box will break

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I'm sure I read somewhere that the nut is best adjusted on one or other full lock rather than the centre ahead position?

Thanks for the helpful replys everyone.

This mornings job (to fix the coolant leak from when i swapped the engine and had water pump issues) involved removing the inlet manifold. Not related to this issue, but did mean i could see the steering column and move it and watch what the pitman arm on the steering box does.
Result is the pitman arm was moving even with the slightest movement on the steering. This leads me to think the steering box is ok. The adjustment is handy to know about tho.
Reading a bit in the service manual (cheers for that again Dan) points towards wheel bearings. Joy. My favourite

BTW, the garage had it back off the ramp and in the car park as soon as poss. I think they were scared of it! Also saying that the factory tracking settings wouldnt be any use, so they wouldnt know what to set it to. methinks they didnt want the job, or any come back. Theres only toe-in that can be adjusted anyway?

Riccy