Taken for a ride? Steering issues

[RangerCamp]

Hi there, thanks in advance for any input.
Recently my 96 Ranger 4x4 supercab started making a clicking/popping noise when turning at slow speeds, like in a parking lot. Sounded like it was coming from the front left tire area. Then yesterday the steering wheel wouldn't easily return to center after it was turned. I went under and felt around, and the drivers side tie rod could easily be turned back and forth by hand.
So today I took it to Ford. Would have gone to an independent but I also wanted them to fix my No 4x4 Low Range issue. ($333 GEM, no guarantees it will fix -- no thanks for now). ANyhow they just called and said I need 2 u-upper ball joints, new front axle u-joints, new drivers side outer tie rod, and stabilizer link bushings. For a total of $1300.
Thing is, I had those u-joints and all 4 ball joints replaced 3 years ago (only 40k miles since) and the stab. bushings LAST summer. And the joints are the Moog greaseable kind. and I have kept them greased (tried to at least.)
Is the dealer trying to screw me? Could not-recently-greased aftermarket joints be considered "failed" to Ford? Might a shot of grease bring them back to life? Any other input? I can't keep putting $1300 of front end work into this thing every 2 years (had RABS done last summer too). Only has 90,000 miles. Thanks.

 

[kevinsranger]

buy the parts yourself for about $150 tops and do it yourself. i just did mine saturday its easy.

 

[MAKG]

You do NOT need to go to the dealer for this. Nothing but warranty work.

That's a dealer price. A qualified neighborhood mechanic will be substantially cheaper.

 

[mhughes165]

if you at all mechanically enclined, just jack it up and see what u need

on your tire if u have left to right shimmy then its your tie rod

if u have up or down shimmy, have a buddy see if the ball joints are moving freeliy, otherwise it would be wheelbearings

 

[4x4junkie]

Probably will be more like $250-300 for all those parts (for QUALITY stuff, anyway).

It doesn't seem likely all that stuff could go bad so soon, but depending on the quality of the parts you used, anything's possible (failure to grease them right after installation will pretty much guarantee them failing right away).

I always try to use the good Spicer (Dana) brand U-joints, Balljoints and tierod stuff.
Moog joints seem decent also, although the ones I have, the damn grease boots didn't last half a year before cracking.