Okay, so I had some time to get under the jeep this weekend and didn't find a single joint with any play. I had my son saw the steering wheel back and forth and didn't find any of the steering or suspension components moving at their connection points.
However I did feel a bit of crunch or cluck in the drag link. I could feel it when I grabbed the link while my son was moving the wheel with the engine on. The drag link joints did not seem to have any play in them, though. I checked the pitman arm and that also did not seem to be loose on the shaft (on the big end).
However, when I had him start the engine and saw the wheel, while looking down from the top of the engine bay, I could see the steering gear box moving side to side. Not a lot, but there is something flexing or the frame is cracked. I have a Rusty's frame side trackbar brace and the bolts that go through the frame are tight and don't move at all while he is sawing the wheel.
I also observed a small amount of play in what I believe is the driver's side unit bearing.
Third thing I found was zero weights on the front driver's side wheel. But there is some adhesive on it. But I'm not sure that was left overs from when I had the Milestars pulled off and put the new Falkens on.
I had a friend show up just as I found these three things and haven't been able to investigate further.
But I think I still have my stock track bar (not sure) but if I do I am going to put that in to see if anything changes. Before I do that though I am going to do a 4 tire rotation to see if that wheel with no weights is involved.
