Welcome to the forum

What year Ranger?
What engine?
2WD or 4x4?
Manual trans or Automatic?

You need to jack up front tires and give them a spin and a shake, to see whats loose

Loud noise, with soft and hard steering could be anything from a flat tire to a broken A-frame, even power steering system

 

 

Start engine and have someone turn steering wheel lock to lock while you watch for odd movement on either side

Do you have manual or automatic front 4x4 hubs?

Have you tried 4high to see if steering is any different?

 

 

Ernie Campbell, When turning, were you in 4- wheel drive ?
If you had the truck in 4x high, binding can happen, depending on how tight the turn is.
As Ron suggested jack up the tire, under the ball joint, grab the bottom and top of the tire and move the top and bottom in and out, each hand in different directions. Sometimes, once jacked up, using a bar under the tire can move it where your hand may not, and may indicate move severe problems !
If you get excessive movement you may have ball joint problems !
Also, in and out on the sides can direct you to tie rod problems.

When did you get the truck ?
Have you or anyone ever done any repairs to the front end ?

Just thinking out loud, smell the wood burning, could your Hubs be worn enough to be locked all the time and in turn causing binding while turning a tight turn ?

Good Luck on your venture into Frontend Land, post up what you find !

 

 

Hey, How did things turn out ?

Interested, could be a good write-up !