I've been reading through many posts, but havn't come up with the specific info needed. My steering wheel has much play, and I've narrowed the fix down to being tie rod ends, pitman arm, or steering column.
I want my steering to be very responsive, so I'll do whatever necessary.
I'm going to attempt to do the mazspeed steering box fix, and I'll also try the pop rivet trick.
Is there a way to check if my tie rod ends or pitman arms are gone? If they're OK, is there an advantage to replacing them completely?
Any and ALL suggestions to help me?

Recent history on the car: Replaced both control arms, ball joints, and endlinks. The cars brakes locked up and slid into a curb like 25mph, which is the reason for the replacements.

Thanks so much

 

Before you adjust the steering sector, make sure all other suspension components are in tiptop shape. Everything you listed and the idler arm. If all of those are good, then the the steering sector.

 

How should I go about checking the tie rods and pitman arm? bushings?

 

nice to see another Richmond Rx7 owner.

Bump

 

get a friend to wiggle the steering wheel back and forth,not enough to turn the wheels but just in the area that it has play.look at all the steering components to see where the play is. if you do adjust the steering box be very careful not to overtighten it.

another thing you might want to look into is a rack and pinion swap.

 

For the tie rods, just grab a hold on them and see if there is any looseness in the joint. The joints should rotate without binding,yet not move too easily. The idler arm, on the passenger side frame rail, has a bushing in it that degrades from the exhaust heat. If it is worn or gone, it will show up easily. There should be no up and down movement in the joint. Pitman arm is usually good.

 

To add to Trochoid's note, if you had to replace ball joints, its a reasonable bet that tierods are gone too. don't under any circumstances play around with the steering gear until you're sure the rest of the steering is in top shape. Also, If you hit a curb, you could have done some inner damage to all the parts you want to check, futher increasing the possiblity that is a lot of your problems.