f150 suspension and steering question

I have a 1997 f150 4x4 5.4 regular cab I just purchased from someone. noticed it had over spray and figured it had been wrecked before. it drives straight and is in allignment. the problem.........I have about a half an inch play in the steering wheel. from front to back. when I brake it takes the play out and I hear a small thump noise. I looked under the truck to see if I can see anything. I noticed that there are no coil springs. does anyone know if my model and year has front coil springs or if they could have replaced the front end with another year model when it was wrecked. thanks any suggestions would help

I have a 2000 F150 that did the same thing--my left from ball joint had a 1/4" of play--I went ahead and enlisted my friends and we replaced all 4--took thump out when brakeing---i then took the rotor/hubs off and turned those and now drives like new---235,180 miles on it--you'd think the ball joints would last longer:lol:

thanks. did that take the foreward and back play out of your steering wheel?

any kinda play in the steering is usually related to steering and suspension. tie rods ball joints steering gear adjustmet. or rack and pinion which ever you have. some trucks still have leaf springs in the front on 4x4 models.