2001 Dakota 4x4.  Just had the tie rod ends replaced, which helped some
issues I didn't even realize the truck had 'till it didn't have them any
more...

However, I'm still noticing a noise, like a tick or perhaps like one
piece of metal slipping off another (almost a grinding noise, but real
short; my mental image of the noise is of one piece of metal hitting
another off center, and sliding off, if that makes any sense), in the
steering column when I turn.  Sometimes it's just once, sometimes a
short series of two or three.

Any idea what this could be, and what should be done about it?

jmc