I've got an 02 GMC with a 6 inch lift. After about 10k miles or so on the lift, the truck doesn't feel safe at all. There is an insane amount of play in the steering wheel. Any ideas of what's wrong before I take it to the shop? I was thinking pitman arm broken or something with the steering column. Or could it just be suspension components coming loose from rough roads? I don't really know very much about suspension. Any thoughts appreciated.

If the pitman was broken, I don't think it'd steer at all. Odds are pretty good that the joints in the pitman and idler arms are just about worn out and have a lot of play. Try jacking one side of the front of the truck up and trying to move the tire side to side by grabbing it at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and trying to twist it. I bet you have a couple inches of play.

If they are worn out that badly, they do need to be replaced very soon. Once you do that, get a cognito brace kit for the idler and pitman arms to help the new ones last longer and reduce the play in your steering.

I also see this is your first post... Welcome!!

I'm taking it in for new tires this morning then I'll head over to get it checked out and hopefully fixed.

Thanks!

X2 - Pitman and idler are likely. Just went through this.

Getting the arms and braces on tomorrow. I could move mine quite a bit.

check the nut on the the pitman arm. Mine actually backed off like a thread or so and i had about 140 degrees of play in the steering wheel. 1 and 1/16 washer(I think) was big enough to slip over the spline when i pulled the nut off, so that washer and the stock washer plus a little loktite, Bingo. :snipersmiDead on.