I'm on my third steering gear box at 26,000 miles. The first gear was tight (no play at all) but, had a fluid leak. The second steering gear was real sloppy from day one. The third unit is not as tight as the first, but better than the second. It's still too loose in my opinion. Wish I had stayed with the leaky one, but who would have ever thought this part would have such a quality control problem?

Something else is going on now. If one tire drops into a pot hole, the steering wheel telegraphs a strong twitch or bump, like something is loose. I'm thinking there is some worn part in the linkage. I remember Ian describing a similar symptom which he described as "bump steer", I believe. However, I don't remember the cure.