My sequence of checking is:
Wheel bearing adjustment - check with wheel off the ground, grab and 12 and 6 and see if there's any movement.
Check for movement in the linkage - leave one wheel down, grab the other around 9 & 3 while watching steering linkage for slop. Then do the other side.
Both wheels on the ground, turn the steering wheel looking for slop between the coupler, and then looking underneath at the pitman arm.