now FYI, I've replaced steering box, centerlink, all 4 tierods, idler arm and pitman arm since I've had the car, trouble is that I think it was done "yesterday" except I've had the car for 17 years so time flies, lol, lot of this was done 10+ years ago so it could be anything...

when I jack the car up and grab either wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock and wiggle it I get enough play to consider it a problem, I'd say the linkage moves 1/4", maybe 3/8"? I believe there should be 0 play right? now if I wiggle it at noon+6 I get no wiggle at all, I believe that means my balljoints are good and it has to do with steering linkage only (balljoints are also newish)

also the car is in need of serious alignment, but I need to fix this before I do that sort of thing.. the wheels look a little crosseyed at the moment but I don't believe that would create or affect "play" in linkage , it's just the next thing to fix.

So how would one go about diagnosing what it may be? I'd prefer to avoid throwing $in form of 4 tierods + centerlink at it if it's avoidable.

 

Drive the front onto some oil change ramps. Have somebody turn the steering wheel back and forth (about 3-9) and you look at the linkage. You will see what's moving. This is how I found my frame cracked behind the steering gearbox. The entire gearbox moved! And I had a bad tie rod end.

Anything loose or has play replace. Or just replace all the steering linkage and forget about it. I don't think we replace the pitman arm on our cars.

 

If you're unsure of the age and condition of the linkage, complete replacement can be done fairly inexpensively, maybe 2-3 times the cost of the alignment.

Check the idler by trying to move it up and down. Any play is cause for replacement.

Wheels without play at 12 and 6 tells you the bearings are good, not the BJs.

Check your strut mounts for tears and damage. Having someone turn the wheel while you observe them helps.

Replacement parts that will require a new alignment: tie rods, centerlink, strut mounts, tie rod adjuster sleeves. Changing a strut may slightly change alignment (there's some excess diameter in the nominal size of the bolt holes) but this change will be very small.

The idler arm is simply installed so that it is the same height relative to the chassis as the pitman arm. Swapping the steering box 'may' change the center position of the steering wheel (it happened ONCE to me with a swap, maybe 1/16 of a turn). But alignment will still be good.

 

I had the same problem with my sons GTA. As plum92 said, put the car on a set of ramps, have someone turn the steering wheel slightly let to right. I found that my center link was bad. I replaced it and the slop in the steering was GONE !! Then i had to get the car aligned.

Good luck !!