I'm back with a question about steering linkage

[Hotrod70C10]

I've haven't hung around t he boards much lately b/c I am in the process of moving into an apartment with my woman...woo hoo.... lol! Today I was hauling a bedfull of 8' 4"x4" posts out to a build site for work. which by the way has nothing to do with my question. I should have taken a picture. Here's my question, while I was driving i started getting this nasty scratching noise from the steering column when I turn. It feels like it grabs and sticks. Any ideas? oh... I'm full on ps fluid. thanks for the help in advance also what is up with the little spring on the steering linkage? It's located pretty much under the master cylinder.