mission-inc said:
Well I guess before I throw down some cash, is there anything else I should test/look for?
What I would suggest is that you enlist an assistant. Park the Jeep, set the brake, set chocks, chain it to a telephone pole. Be sure it won't move, because you're going to be under it. Leave the wheels on the ground.
Start the engine with tranny in park (or neutral if 5-speed). Have your assistant gently move the steering wheel back and forth, across the straight ahead position. For starters, have him/her swing the wheel about 45 degrees each way. You do NOT want the tires to actually turn, you want to stress the steering just up to the point where the tires would start to move. If 45 degrees each way doesn't take all the slack out, increase to 90 degrees each way from center.
While your assistant does this repeatedly, you get to crawl under the front end and methodically inspect each and every moving joint to see if there's any slop or play. Use a bright flashlight or drop light. I like to also wear plastic medical gloves and actually grab each joint, because sometimes you can feel a tie rod end flexing before there's visible slop.
You should look at the following:
Tie rod ends on both sides at knuckles
Joint where drag link joins tie rod
Axle end of track bar
Upper (frame) end of track bar
Check the bracket that the frame end of the track bar goes into -- it may be loose on the frame
Joint where drag link joins pitman arm
Inspect the pitman shaft where it comes out of the steering box for lateral movement
If there is any slop in any of those -- fix them first.
Then jack up the front axle and try to wiggle (wobble) the tires. Grab a wheel at top and bottom and try to make it move. If there's movement, you then have to check if it's the hubs, or one or both ball joints.