1997 Ford Crown Victoria Play and noise in steering

The steering components and suspension components need to be checked.

While on the ground, use a stethescope to probe ball joints and outer tie rod ends while someone moves the wheel back and forth to reproduce the noise. This is where I suspect the squeaking is coming from.

After this is done, you need to get the front wheels off the ground and move each wheel in a push pull fashion to check for play. Is there any play?

I was assuming this is an outside noise.

IF this is an inside noise there is likely an internal part in the steering column that may be broke. Ford may not longer have this part and it may require a used steering Column. There is a 8-10 inch cast part inside the CVs that tend to break....shift selector tube #66 If I recall..