1995 Ford Explorer too much play in steering wheel

Hi:
It could be a few problems. The pitman arm, tie rods, or the steering gear itself. You need to lift the front wheels off the ground and move the wheels left and right quickly while someone watches to see if there is play in any of the steering components. If everything is tight, I would look at the steering gear. NOTE: Ball joints could also cause this problem. If there is a mechanic you trust, ask him just to check the front end for any loose steering components. I would think someone would do that for free. If they find something loose, ask them if they could show you then let me know what they find.

Joe