Adjusting Rack and Pinion Play 2003 Escape

[tinkering]

2003 Ford Escape
Do I need to remove the R&P unit from the vehicle to make any adjustments to clear up the slack in the R&P, if there are adjustments available? It looks Awfully tight up/down in there?
It doesn't make sense to me that it might be the inner tie rod ends I'm hearing when I have it on stands and move the wheel side to side.

I can't see in there especially with the flex boot over the joint. It doesn't sound like the inner tie rod end. When I push and pull the wheel from side to side, I hear a clacking almost like a bouncing from behind the fender just forward of the door. This is exactly the same on both the drivers and passenger's sides.
When someone holds the steering wheel still though, I cannot generate that sound at all unless I really give 'er. It's like there is slop instead of preload between the rack & pinion gear... but it doesn't make sense to me; it should make that noise with the steering wheel held still too, shouldn't it!???