slowly my steering has been becoming loose.. when i drive the car follows the grooves at lights etc.. i have a 96 civic with a b18c1 turbo.. im trying to track this down.. when i get under the car and someone turns the wheel everything is turning just there is slop around the wheel.. for example i can get under there and wiggle the wheel left to right and feel the slop in the wheel but when i turn the steering wheel it seems to funcion correctly.. so ive narrowed it down to being something that connects the steering to the wheel... tie rod and bushings should they be my next step to fixing the problem... or should i try to adjust using the big adjustment nut?

 

i would check the tie rods or ball joints or whatever.