Ford Repair: Steering problem in 96 Explorer AWD, tie rod ends, ball joints

Question
There is a stiffness in the steering at a singlepoint. It is just off the side of driving straight. When I am driving, I can try to turn the wheel slightly to the left and I feel a resistance. If I keep going, it will "jump" past this point and abruptly let me turn to the left. This is especially noticeable when driving in a windy condition where I am correcting for the wind force. I keep "popping" over and back across the tightness. The tie-rod ends are good with no looseness or wear. Is it possible that there is a worn point in the rack and pinion? Could there be a problem elsewhere in the front suspension?

Answer
Hello and thanks for the question...I'll try to help.
 It is possible that the rack is worn, BUT........I would first look at ALL of the front end components........Ball Joints and control arms seem to be the more likely cause. If you can remove the outter tie rod ends from the steering knuckle, with the vehicle up on jack stands, swing the knuckle from side to side (like you were turning the vehicle). This might reveal the problem, it also might not, because the Ball Joints might need to have the weight of the vehicle on them to fail.
Hope this helps,
Erik