'02 Ford Ranger steering question

[Benz guy]

Hello All, have a quick question about the steering or maybe the drive line of the Rangers. My '02 (3.0L xtracab 2x4) work truck has 105K miles on it and since about 80K miles I am noticing that something is loose in the steering or front end, driver side. Every once in a while I can feel a ticking or clicking noise in the steering wheel and can also hear the noise faintly from the left side front. It kind of sounds like (or feels like) ratling a smaller piece of pipe inside a larger piece of pipe... Truck passes inspection... steering wheel itself is solid, no play at all. I have also heard the same noise while riding in another Ranger with only 75K miles or so... seems like a manufacturing or design defect... any ideas what could this be?

[bustetter]

I have a 02' too with 100,000 on it and it doesn't do anything like that. Can you hear it or can you feel it, which one. have you checked the ball joints, are the dusts boots tore or cracked bad. have you checked the steering shaft joints for wear.have you checked tie rods for play.

[Benz guy]

Originally Posted by bustetter

I have a 02' too with 100,000 on it and it doesn't do anything like that. Can you hear it or can you feel it, which one. have you checked the ball joints, are the dusts boots tore or cracked bad. have you checked the steering shaft joints for wear.have you checked tie rods for play.

It can be faintly heard... Can feel it in steering wheel (however this is not a vibration). Strangely it is most pronounced when going slow... In an other thread someone mentioned that the left shock absorber mounting wore out in their Ranger it may be what I have in mine as well. I have not specifically checked the steering system because it does feel tight. I am due for an oil change in a few weeks. I'll ask the mechanic to check and see if he sees anything when the vehicle is up in the air.

[pshirkey]

check the inner tierods on the stearing arms,seems to be a weak link,ive replaced
them on three rangers,most any lasted was around 70,000

[Rick_101]

This may sound strange, but I had a similar problem with a 70 Econoline- I traced it to loose attaching bolts for the steering box.