1998 Ford Ranger hard steering

you have a power steering fault somewhere ? is the drive belt still on ?? check power steering fluid level .. check pipes for leaks .. if this is all ok .. the pump may have given up .. and needs replacing ?

When you say it takes a lot of turns to move the wheels a little it makes me wonder if something has come apart. Here's something to check that is a little more obscure....There is a rubber coupling that connects the steering gearbox to the column. If your steeering wheel turns more times lock-to-lock than it used to that may have torn loose. THe other thing that comes to mind is I had a van that the frame rusted out. The idler amr pulled away from the frame and it would only turn one direction. The steering wheel would turn both ways but the front wheels only turned to the right.

Hope I was some help, eliminating things if nothing else.