I had a car once which had a missing drop link, I never noticed!
Probably not best practice but I can't see how it will hurt for testing purposes, might affect the handling a bit if you go hurtling down some twisty roads.
I thought you had rebuilt the swivels already?
Did you replace the drop arm? You might aswell to discount it.
Could you not clamp the drop arm and then see if any play in the steering wheel?
Not sure how the pas pump could affect the road holding.
Did you replace the nuts and bolts in the suspension arms?
Steering column UJs?
Mine doesn't have an inch free play in the steering wheel
Drop arm?
I wouldn't presume a recon box is any good.
What do you mean by set it up?
Any adjustments will be in the workshop manual but don't discount the fact a recon might actually be no good. Half arsed recon would mean change the seals and paint it black.
Remember you also have the UJs on the steering column and all other steering components to...
The transfer box needs to be in gear for it to move, be that hi or lo. If it's in the 'neutral ' position it won't go anywhere.
Try 1st gear on the main gearbox and hi on the transfer box and see what happens.
Good driving by everyone. I often see that lane on YouTube and quite often the jacked up monstrosities make a proper pigs ear of it.
Have you got a What3Words location for it?