Do steering shafts go bad/wear out?

[3pedals]

Truck is an ‘08 1500 4wd 6spd with 405k miles…been getting a clunk at times in the steering wheel when turning at low speed, but the clunk feels like it’s right behind the wheel as opposed to in suspension. Also my steering wheel is now a little wobbly on the column, with some “bad wheel bearing” type play (worse up/down than side to side). Has anyone had to replace the steering shaft?

 

[MADDOG]

It may be the joint or the steering box vs. a bearing.

 

[3pedals]

Which joint? Wouldn’t that be part of the shaft? Not saying there’s a bad bearing, but you know how a bad wheel bearing will cause a wheel to have vertical play, that’s what my steering wheel does. Truck Has a steering rack, not a box like my 2500. Original steering rack was replaced about 35k miles ago so hoping that’s not the cause.