Just don't drive on roads with ruts. There is a tech tip on this I think, and if you do a search, many people have replaced theirs. I don't believe that there should be too much play.
I believe that when you replace the kin pins, you also replace the bushings they go through.
I bought a set, with bushings etc, but have not put them in yet. Rebuilding the front end, is my last (yeah right) big job left on the truck. Someone else will chime in with more experience.
