The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Steering Wheel Slop, where do I start

If you have stock tie-rod ends, I would follow the shop manual, which does say back them off a little. If the spring is fully compressed, then the spools (for lack of a better term) will be contacting the cups around the balls and if the balls are not completely spherical, then things will bind up as you turn the wheels. The springs are there to allow a little movement, but keep the cups in contact with the balls.