Slop in the steering column shaft that goes into the gear box

You missed a spline when installing the pitman arm on the steering box. Park the truck straight and remove the arm. with the arm off, unlock steering column and point the steering wheel straight. Lock the steering column. Then reinstall the pitman arm on the steering box carefully matching the splines in the arm to the shaft on the steering box. that should be close to running straight while driving straight.

Manual Steering Column with JL4) or
Steering Wheel Position Sensor Replacement (Power Steering Column with JL4) ?
Preliminary Procedure Remove the intermediate steering shaft. Refer to Intermediate Steering Shaft Replacement .
1
Steering Angle Sensor Adapter
2
Steering Wheel Position Sensor
Procedure Disconnect any electrical connectors as needed.
Tip
If reusing, secure the old steering wheel position sensor before removing it for proper alignment upon reinstallation. Refer to Steering Wheel Position Sensor Centering .

Callout

Component Name
Notice: Secure the steering wheel utilizing a strap to prevent rotation. Locking of the steering column will prevent damage and a possible malfunction of the SIR system. The steering wheel must be secured in position before disconnecting the following components:
?€¢
The steering column
?€¢
The intermediate shaft
?€¢
The steering gear

After disconnecting these components, do not move the front tires and wheels. Failure to follow these procedures may cause improper alignment of some components during installation and result in possible damage to the SIR coil.
Preliminary Procedure Remove the steering column. Refer to Steering Column Replacement .
1
Intermediate Steering Shaft Bolt
Procedure Remove the steering column boot seal in order to access the intermediate steering shaft bolt.
2
Intermediate Steering Shaft Nut
Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.
Tighten
47 N?·m (35 lb ft)
3
Intermediate Steering Shaft
Tip
?€¢
If necessary, scribe location marks between the intermediate steering shaft and the steering column and the intermediate steering shaft and the steering gear to mark their alignment before removing.
?€¢
If replacing the intermediate steering shaft, transfer any scribe marks from the old one to the new one.

Callout

Component Name
Notice: Secure the steering wheel utilizing a strap to prevent rotation. Locking of the steering column will prevent damage and a possible malfunction of the SIR system. The steering wheel must be secured in position before disconnecting the following components:
?€¢
The steering column
?€¢
The intermediate shaft
?€¢
The steering gear

After disconnecting these components, do not move the front tires and wheels. Failure to follow these procedures may cause improper alignment of some components during installation and result in possible damage to the SIR coil.
Preliminary Procedures

1. Remove the left side instrument panel insulator panel. Refer to Instrument Panel Insulator Panel Replacement - Left Side .
2. Remove the driver knee bolster. Refer to Driver Knee Bolster Replacement .
3. Disconnect the intermediate steering shaft from the steering gear. Refer to Steering Gear Replacement .

1
Steering Column Nut (Qty: 4)
Notice: Refer to Title not found in the Preface section.
Tighten
25 N?·m (18 lb ft)
2
Steering Column
Procedure

Disconnect any electrical connectors as needed.

If equipped with AN3, disconnect the automatic transmission range selector cable. Refer to Automatic Transmission Range Selector Cable Replacement - Column .

Transfer any parts as needed.

yes - the column will come out separate to the steering box but remember that the column has to come all the way up to get it of the steering shaft which is part of the box. That means if you do not have the room in the cab for the length of the column to come past the steering wheel then you will have to remove the box . Really it is quicker to pull the pitman arm of the box --undo the column brackets --remove the steering wheel ---undo the box off the chassis and pull the lot out past the springs.

No,it unbolts at the box,one pinch bolt and a splined shaft.

Check the steering intermediate shaft connection to the steering gear box, its slip shaft and the connection to the stering collumn. if those are ok, its probably slop in the steering gear box. Some of that can be adjusted out on the gear box by your mechanic. You will see either a flat head cut or hex head inset with a lock nut on the top of the gear box. Loosening hte lock nut and tightening the bolt to factory torque setting then releasing it the appropriate specified degress will reset the gear box back to factory settings. Beware if you set this wrong you will cause your steering to bind when turning. Therefore only let a qualified mechanic do this for you.

To Remove:

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section. NOTE: The wheels of the vehicle must be straight ahead and the steering column in the LOCK position before disconnecting the steering column or intermediate shaft from the steering gear. Failure to do so will cause the SIR coil assembly (clock spring) to become uncentered, which may cause damage to the assembly.
   
2. Lock the steering column by installing the J42640 into the underside of the steering column.
3. Raise and support the vehicle.
4. Remove the tires and wheels.
5. Remove the power steering gear heat shield.
6. Remove or disconnect the following: CAUTION
   Failure to disconnect the intermediate shaft from the rack and pinion stub shaft can result in damage to the steering gear and/or intermediate shaft. This damage can cause loss of steering control, which could result in personal injury.
   
• Intermediate shaft lower pinch bolt and coupling from gear
• Pressure and return pipes from the gear
• Electrical connector, if equipped
  Stabilizer shaft links at lower control arms
• Remove the left stabilizer shaft insulator.
• Rotate the stabilizer shaft to access steering gear bolts.
• The outer tie rod retaining nuts.
• Using J24319-B separate the outer tie rods from the steering knuckles.
• Rack and pinion attaching bolts
• Rack and pinion assembly through the left wheel opening.
7. Transfer the outer tie rods if replacing the power steering gear.

To Install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   • Rack and pinion assembly through the left wheel opening and tighten the bolts to 70 ft. lbs. (95 Nm)
   • Electrical connector, if equipped
     Pressure and return lines to the steering gear and tighten the fittings to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm)
   • Heat shield and bolts. Tighten the bolts to 7 ft. Lbs. (10 N)
   • Install the left stabilizer shaft insulator.
2. Install stabilizer shaft Links to lower control arms
3. Intermediate shaft to the steering gear and tighten the pinch bolt to 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm)
4. Install the outer tie rods to the steering knuckles.
5. Install the outer tie rods retaining nuts. torque the nuts to 22ft.lbs(30 Nm) plus an additional 180 degrees.
6. Install the tires and wheels.
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Remove the steering column anti rotation pin from the steering column.
9. Fill and bleed the power steering system.
10. Adjust the front toe.

Lock the steering column by installing the Steering Column Anti Rotation Pin tool J 42640 into the underside of the steering column--Aurora


Steering gear mounting bolts--Aurora




Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear Heat Shield Removal & Installation To Remove:

1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • The stabilizer shaft links.
   • Rotate the stabilizer shaft downward.
   • The electrical harness clip.
   • Power steering gear heat shield mounting bolts.
   • The heat shield.

To Install:

1. Install the power steering gear heat shield.
2. Install or connect the following:
   • The mounting bolts And torque to 89in.lbs.(10 Nm)
   • The electrical harness clip.
   • Rotate the stabilizer shaft into position.
   • The stabilizer shaft links.
3. Lower the vehicle.

Figure of heat shield removed from above rack bolts with location shown

Removal Procedure

Notice: Do not rotate steering shaft after steering column has been removed. Damage to SIR components may occur.

Lock the steering column through the access hole in the steering column lower trim cover using the J 42640.
Remove the air cleaner assembly. Refer to Air Cleaner Outlet Resonator Replacement in Powertrain Management.Remove the intermediate shaft shield from the steering gear.Place a drain pan below the steering gear. Remove the pressure and the return hoses from the power steering gear. Cap or tape the ends of the hoses and the gear fittings in order to prevent dirt from entering the system.Remove the lower intermediate shaft coupling bolt. Draw alignment marks on the lower intermediate shaft coupling and the steering shaft. Remove the lower intermediate shaft coupling from the steering shaft. Remove the pitman arm. Refer to Pitman Arm Replacement.Remove the steering gear mounting bolts and the washers from the frame. Remove the steering gear.
Installation Procedure


Install the steering gear. Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions. Install the power steering gear to the frame washers and the mounting bolts. Tighten Tighten the power steering gear to frame mounting bolts to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.). Install the pitman arm. Refer to Pitman Arm Replacement.Install the lower intermediate shaft to the power steering gear. Ensure that the alignment marks line up. Install the lower intermediate shaft coupling bolt. Tighten Tighten the lower intermediate shaft coupling bolt to 35 Nm (26 ft. lbs.). Install the pressure and the return hoses to the power steering gear. TightenTighten the pressure hose to 25 Nm (18 ft. lbs.) for the vehicle equipped with the 2.2L engines. Tighten the pressure hose to 30 Nm (22 ft. lbs.) for the vehicle equipped with the 4.3L engines. Tighten the return hose to 25 Nm (18 ft. lbs.). Install the intermediate shaft shield to the power steering gear. Install the air cleaner assembly. Refer to Air Cleaner Outlet Resonator Replacement in Powertrain Management. Unlock the steering column by removing the J 42640 from the steering column lower steering column trim cover access hole. Bleed the power steering system. Refer to Bleeding Power Steering System in Steering / Service and Repair.

Could be more worn steering parts such as the pitman or idler arm. IIRC, the 98 Ram has a steering gear box, and not rack and pinion steering like newer models.

If the issue is not up front under the hood, you could also have a worn intermediate (sometimes called a sector shaft) . This shaft goes between the steering column and the gear box or rack and pinion.

first thing is to loosen the column mount at the fire wall inside where the column goes through the fire wall and also loosen the column support up next to the dash. so you can move the column up and down. at the rag joint remove the bolts that pass throught the leather dampner between the two pieces of metal one is clamped to the steering gear box shaft and the other is clamped to the steering column loosen the bolts that hold the pieces of the rag joint to the column and steering box. and remove each piece from the shafts. you may need a hammer depending on how rusty the are on the shafts. the steering gear box shaft is splined so when you install the new joint line up the splines so it will slip onto the shaft. a little WD40 sprayed on the shaft will help it slde on. then slide the column into the top part of the joint until it is seated. tighten the clamp nuts and torque to 40 ft Lbs each retighten the firewall clamp and the dash support and you are done.

ALINGMENT.