The easiest way to diagnose steering float/play is with a remote camera pointing at different components while you have the video screen in front of you as you turn the wheel
with the full weight of the car on the front wheels. There are only so many parts that can have slack in them and, chances are, one of them will be obvious when observed under load (like my rack with the dial indicator on it). You didn't really need a gauge on it, but it was fun to do.
