steering wheel shaft

It sounds like the coupler pot assembly, Rebuild kits are available but I personally like the u joint kits from flaming river or boredom. The factory service manual adjustment of the manual steering box calls for taking the lock nut loose and backing the sector wedge screw all the out, taking a large chisel and and hammer backing the locknut on the input shaft side of the box loose (soaking the threads with a little used synthetic motor oil helps tremendously here). Then use a spanner wrench in the holes holes on the actual lock but, loosen and tighten it while rotating the steering shaft back and forth just a little, you’ll notice that each time you loosen and tighten that it will snug a little more until it gets everything drawn tight. This tightens the bushings on the worm shaft and properly centers it while removing wobble. Tighten the locknut back with a hammer and chisel. Then tighten the sector screw and when it gets tight start working input shaft a little back and forth until it seats tight and then back it off by feel while working the input a little until it has just a little clearance, usually about 1/3 of a turn and retighten locknut.