2003 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3L Steering Creaks and Groans

[Fishinguy40]

It creaks and groans when you turn the steering wheel. Tough to tell but it sounds like the noise comes from the rack near the left tie rod. This is where the steering shaft comes in but I'm assuming it is the rack. The noise just started. Is it okay to drive for a little while? Do the rack and tie rods come as one assembly? How tough is it to change myself then bring in for an alignment afterwards?

[Jeremy airjer W]

remove the wheels and take a pair of vice grips and rotate the outer tie rod ends side to side. Its not uncommon for them to dry up and cause that noise. It wouldn't surprise me if it where the lower ball joints as well. If the noise goes away with the tire off the ground and the jack under the unibody than I would bet it's one of those two.

[Fishinguy40]

I did have the front end jacked up but tires were still on. I crawled underneath to listen. Noise definetly comes from the left tie rod/rack assembly. Sounds like a dry bushing as the tie rod extends and retracts. No noise from the ball joints. Should I replace the rack?