Steering rack clunk and slop

It’s not the tie rods as both wheels move together as I grab at 9 & 3 and push/pull side-to-side. The attached video is the view from underneath as I move the tire (either side acts the same). What is causing this? Do I need a whole new rack or is this adjustable? It doesn’t look like it a bushing issue as the rack itself isn’t moving. It looks like internals are loose. If so can this be adjusted?

 

Preload is adjustable..not easy to access and not advisable. I'd look for other issues. How many miles? Any leaks? Lots of serious off-roading?

 

It looks to me like your rack assembly is in fact moving a little bit from side to side. Im pretty sure these are bushing mounted, so Id imagine a little play is normal.

More importantly though, is the steering wheel held 100% tight in the same spot when you are doing this test? If not the tires can spin the wheel a little bit

 

Thought I saw the shock moving up and down, then realized the camera angle was from below, not the side. Just the CV boot moving as expected.

 

Nothing moves except the wheels together as I move either one side or the the other side to side. Neither the steering wheel or the outside of the steering rack housing move.

 

i notice the same when i was troubleshooting what i thought was a wheel bearing going bad. Used a ratchet strap to secure my steering wheel and did the 9/3 12/6 hand dance with my tires and noticed how much play there was

 

Slider bushing preload. Mark where it currently is, Pull it out, clean it, regrease the rack sliding surface and the bushing, and tighten down back to where it was + a little more (1/8th of a turn), if slop is gone, good, if not, tighten further. Too tight and the steering wheel wont return back to center.