I removed the steering column and cleaned it up and repainted it. There isn't really any play in the steering box, so I just left it alone.
The ball on the pitman arm, however, was a different matter. It was starting to get undercut and I didn't want to have that come off while driving! That would be a little too exciting for me. I ground off the back side that was mushroomed like a rivet, then pressed it out. I got a new replacement one and pressed it in. I then welded the backside to retain it. When that was complete, I re-installed the steering column.
I removed the tie rod and drag link and cleaned them up. I totally disassembled the drag link and cleaned it up and then put it back together. Once I reassembled everything, it all worked nice and smooth.
