I have a 97 f250 ext long bed 2wd. The steering feels like there's a delay when going down the road and at a dead stop it take's a 1/4-1/2 turn for the wheels to move. I have noticed the frame flexing quite a bit when I'm turning the wheel waiting on the tires to move is it a weak frame or bad steering components?

 

You SHOULD NOT be able to see the frame moving at all when you turn the steering wheel.

Figuring out where your sloppy steering is coming from is best done with two people in my opinion. Get one of your buddies to sit in the truck and turn the wheel while you look under the truck at the steering components and see where all the turning is going before the wheels turn.

In your case look first at the frame around the steering box because it might be cracked.

 

I couldn't find any cracks but the frame is moving where the gear box is located If I find cracks could I just bolt a plate over it?

 

Are you sure it's the frame moving, and not the box moving on the frame?

 

Yes the the driver side pushes up and the passanger side goes down.

 

If it were mine and I wasn't sure what was going on with all that movement and steering slop I'd get someone qualified to look at it right away. Hard to tell from your description but it sounds like the steering could go out on you altogether. Not a good thing if it happens at highway speed with other innocent drivers or people nearby. Better to be safe and not take chances until you find out what is going on and get it fixed correctly.

 

Thanks everybody for suggestions. Found the problem the bottom part of the frame where the gear box connects broke free from the cross member and was letting the frame anf gear box twist in and out. My steerings 100 times better the frame still flexs a little and I can find any cracks