steering issue, noise, roughness/binding

hey guys, i cant see any particular part noticeably bad other than surface rust on everything, so rather than throwing all new parts on it trying to find it (im not rich, just to get that point out...rather the opposite!), i'll ask first opinions before it hits a shop... you never know

all bushings look ok, there is no dead giveaway to me. i havent tried greasing anything, i think they may be sealed units anyway... i dont recall seeing any nip...boo no nip!

when i drive the truck, steering is a touch tough, not too bad, i can deal, but it has a hard time staying back on center after a turn. you can hear clunking and vibration (also hear it) when turning while driving.

so when i lift the front end and try to push pull the wheels by hand, so im closer to the source of the noise, i cant get it move past center...(i could, but i'll throw out my back trying! it's tough. only turning the steering wheel inside, and its a bit tough, even with no weight on the front end.

heres a vid...

Sway bar ends? idk

thnk so? i'll look into it

really doubt it, since sway bars have nothing to do with steering vibrations....
that is a good video BTW. you need a buddy to turn the wheels while you can feel or better locate where the noise is coming from. near the 1:18 point you can clearly hear a kind of 'ting' noise after each pop. sounds like thin metal. i almost think possibly bad ball joints. do you have any looseness when you grab at the top and bottom and try to shake it in and out? something's definately dry and needs grease. might be bj's, tie rods, pitman arm, idler arm, hard to say till you can get under there while someone else turns the wheels so you can zero in on it.

If your handy with tools might suggest the following - get a pickle fork (most auto parts stores will load them out), then dissasemble the tie rod ends from the steering knuckles. Try steering again. I noise is still present, it's obviously not the ball joints. Pull the center link out and try moving the idler arm. My guess is the idler arm is shot. The steering box typically is full of oil so it will not usually make noise like that. As you noted, most stock Mazda components are non greasable. The tierods typically will not make noise like you have. The pitman arm joint is another possibility (joint on end of steering box). Good luck and keep us posted.

thanks for the tech tips so far, i may try to unbolt the tie rods tomorrow and try that...i just didnt want to start undoing old parts... figuring they'll break, or not go back together. so i'll have to spend money and replace things (hopefully the problematic piece is one of the first i undo!)

ya i havent had any friends drop by during 'usable' hours... day light, or when i still feeling like working on it.

actually i think dragn37 was right! bolts were fairly loose up front from recent sway bar reinstall and new links and bushings... tightened up, and i dont think i have any more noise, very little if at all, steering is still a bit stiff, but im also used to my SHO's variable power assist, FWD, torque steer...so yaeh . the truck also sat for a year or so, so that might have been the issue too.

i just wanna see a bigger shot of the icon pic he has......lol