Boneheaddoctor, are you sure you are not related to me. We seem sometimes to take simular approaches to things. As for the originator of this thread. You might want to drop one end of your steering damper shock and see if it's still really alive. Besides general metal to metal tightness also look at and pry any rubber bushings. The problem with older cars and no records is we sometimes have no ideal when a wear part was changed out earlier if at all.