Steering adjustment also entails setting the preload on the worm shaft bearings. The manual has a spec for that with the sector adjustment loosened all the way and the pitman arm disconnected, either at the drag link or the arm removed, not just the wheels off the ground. It's expressed in pounds of force to turn the rim of the steering wheel and could be converted to inch pounds on a torque wrench. Adjusting with the wheels jacked off the ground could wind up with the worm shaft bearings too loose because of drag of the steering joints and king pins.
