Newb with confused front right wheel

Had my 98 since 2013 and 170,000, currently 308,xxx, and Saturday I tried to leave the grocery store and found that the front wheels were acting drunk. The left does everything fine, but the right just sits there and won’t steer either way when I turn from lock to lock. I popped the tie rod off the hub and then it sobers up enough to follow along with the left side, but neither side is loose, has any play or shows any signs of wear, even with the boots pushed all the way back. It’s like the shaft inside the steering rack snapped in the middle while I was parking at the grocery store. Called several alignment and general mechanic shops to see how or if that’s possible and haven’t found one person that thinks the shaft could be broken, as it would require so much force that the rack itself and other nearby parts would no longer be attatched to the truck. I just want to know if anyone has seen something like this and if I just need to bite the bullet and replace the rack, or if it could be something else?? TIA

 

^Rack bushings in good shape? LCA bushings in good shape? Have someone steer lock to lock while you watch underneath to see where the lost motion is.

 

Because of how the left wheel turns both ways without issue using the steering wheel, and the right wheel only turns by manually pushing on the wheel/tire, I assumed once I popped the tie rod off the wheel that I would either be able to pull the remaining shaft out of the rack or at least jerk it around enough to feel or hear excessive play, slop, sound, something, but found nothing at all. Even removed the boot and turned all the way to the left which puts the max amount of shaft out the right side of the rack and still nothing looks, feels or sounds like there is a problem. Fluid is old but not low, has had a small leak but haven’t had to add fluid in 3-4 years at least.

 

It's gotta be the rack. Just because you can't move the arm doesn't mean it isn't jammed in there somehow.