I've got a loud popping sound when I turn the steering. Steering is not tight and I'm all over the road.
I took a lot of slop out by replacing the old steering rod where the rag joint was slotted very badly.
My 95 4x4 passenger side cv axel gets into a bind when jacked up off the ground and the wheel is turned. Is this normal?
The bind is pushing the transfer case over.

With both wheels off the ground when I turn the wheel left and right to check steering, the damp shock moves up and down. Should this move up and down where it is connected to the pitman arm or idler arm?

 

I'd take a close look at your ball joints and tie rod ends.

 

I'm guessing it is the ball joints are causing the popping sound. There is no play when tugging and pushing on the wheels so I'm thinking the rod ends are good. The vehicle just doesn't feel like it is solid when turning in a curve at a speed of 45mph. I'm most concerned about the idler and pitman arms. Should the damper shock be moving up and down? I would think the in and out is normal (but not up and down?)