A way to see if it is the rag joint is pull the boot back at the steering column , turn the steering wheel back and forth only in the area there is play. See it the intermediate shaft starts and stops turning the same time u turn the wheel. Then pull the boot back at the rack, have an assistant turn the wheel or watch and see if the intermediate shaft turns at the same time the wheel does. if no assistant pull back the boot with a bungee cord and set up a digital camera on a tripod to record the intermediate shaft at the rack , give audible cues as to when turning the wheel.