Thanks for the info guys I'll give it a look over when I'm with the car next and let you know where I end up.

Here are the main areas to inspect

Quote:How much angle? Up to 45 degrees off is fairly common and usually caused by worn steering linkage.

To inspect for worn steering linkage:
1. lie on the ground near the driver's side door, looking at the underside of the car
2. reach up and wiggle the steering wheel back and forth (with the door open)
3. watch to see if any of the rods move independent of each other. If they do, the rod ends need replacement.
4. the steering knuckle, and thus tires, should move with the tie-rods. If a rod moves, but not the tyres, the linkage is worn at that point
5. the idler arm should NOT move up and down, only rotate. Replace Idler Arm bushings if ANY up-and-down motion is detected


Potential causes of loose steering:
* Bolts holding steering gearbox to chassis are loose
* Linkage is worn (perhaps ball joints, tie rod ends, or cross rod)
* Steering gearbox is worn (often causes up to 3" play at steering wheel)
* Front hub wheel bearings are not adjusted correctly
* Bracket holding the tension rod has broken

See Steering System Diagnoses

Quote:That is one. The column is the box. The box is the column.

It sounds like the splines on the shaft or the steering wheel are worn,remove the horn button assy and see if there is any sign of freeplay between the shaft and wheel also the coupling from the shaft to the steering box
Russ

So I'm in the process of getting my ute roadworthy and the mechanic brought to my attention that the steering is slipping, and not like anything I can find in any tech wiki or previous posts on this site, it is aligned with the steering but after a 90 degree turn there is so much play that when the wheels are returned to straight the wheel is at a severe angle to the wheels, is this problem in the box or the column? Don't even know where to start as I doubt the steering box adjustment or a wheel alignment will fix this? Any ideas? Thanks..