Midnite,
I am going through the exact same situation with our 2001 Windstar. I had to buy a new rack & pinion (steering assembly). It cost me $185.00 + tax at Advance Auto Parts. It also carried a $200.00 core charge which you get back!
This is a farily involved repair. It took my brother and I about 3 hours to get the old one out. You need to remove the 2 large bolts that connect the rear support to the body. You let that sag about 4 inches and then you remove the sway bar. Then you can get at the rack & pinion. You will also have to remove the tie rod ends and a couple of hose fittigs from the rack itself. After all that is out of the way you remove the 2 large nuts that retain the rack to the front support. This was a major pain in the a$$. I suggest you have a really large bar to add to the end of your ratchet to break them loose. Good luck. | 
