Factory Steering Box Play?

[dgrigorenko]

so i picked up a new steering box from autozone because my last one had about 2 inches of play in the steering wheel only to find out that the new one had the same amount of play in it.... now before you go off telling me its the trackbar bushings, ball joints, or tierod ends, you should know that i can move just the input shaft with my fingers, and there is obvious and noticable slop before the pitman arm moves. is this slop supposed to be there? or did i just get a bum box?

any help would be appreciated

g