1990 Blazer steering problem, rusted trans cooler lines

[Queasyrida]

These solid front axle trucks will never steer as tightly as a car, but you can get them reasonably tight. I'm going to mention looking for frame cracks around the steering box just to be thorough...but with it's low mile/easy driving history and on small tires I'm 99.9% sure frame cracks aren't a problem on your truck. Still good to get a socket on the steering box bolts and check them though.

Ball joints could just have been not greased much in it's life, it's not necessarily abuse or hard driving that wears them out.

The ball joints checked perfect, top and bottom both sides. Steering box bolts tight, no cracks in the frame.
I did have a slight wheel bearing (?) wobble, drivers side. You could feel it more than see it, pushing the top of the tire in and out. Is the bearing adjusted the same as a 2WD front axle, tighten the nut and then back off slightly? I removed the chrome axle cover held by six screws but I stopped there not knowing what to do...

 

[rampage]

If you grab the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock and get play then it's the bearings. If you grab it at 6 and 12 o'clock then it's the ball joints. It's best to have someone else move the bar underneath the tire as described above while you look at the ball joints. I can do it by myself by operating the bar with my foot while looking at it.
If you do replace the ball joints the this would be a good time to check the u-joints on the axle shafts. They should flop around freely once you remove them from the axle tube. Sometimes they get frozen and don't want to move and can cause weird steering issues (and yes you'd notice it while in 2WD). You'll turn the steering wheel and it doesn't want to return to center or it gives a jerky response, etc. Doesn't sound like what you're describing but something to keep in mind.

 

[Queasyrida]

If you grab the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock and get play then it's the bearings. If you grab it at 6 and 12 o'clock then it's the ball joints. It's best to have someone else move the bar underneath the tire as described above while you look at the ball joints. I can do it by myself by operating the bar with my foot while looking at it.
If you do replace the ball joints the this would be a good time to check the u-joints on the axle shafts. They should flop around freely once you remove them from the axle tube. Sometimes they get frozen and don't want to move and can cause weird steering issues (and yes you'd notice it while in 2WD). You'll turn the steering wheel and it doesn't want to return to center or it gives a jerky response, etc. Doesn't sound like what you're describing but something to keep in mind.

Using a 5 foot prybar under the tire, there isn't any play at all. Grabbing the tire at the top, there's just a slight movement in and out. The wheel is loose on the spindle for some reason, it's almost undetectable. Watching the ball joint on the spindle there is no movement.
I need to find out if tightening the axle nut is the method to eliminate the play. Thanks for the suggestions!