[Marshall V. Daut]

Ensure that the tie rod is not rubbing against the tops of the radius rods (wishbone). Often times the steering arms in the spindles get bent over the years, lowering the tie rod. It can then interfere with the radius rods and cause a metallic scraping noise and hard steering. Also make sure the tie rod is not bent, as so many are. It must be dead straight so that it doesn't come into any contact with other metal parts during its left and right travel.
Let us know after an inspection if we can cross that off the list of suspects.
Marshall
P.S. I sold my 1928 Roadster in Munich in August of 1975 before returning to the States. I had advertised its sale in the magazine "Automobil Chronik". The car went south to Traunstein, where it remained for many years. 'Lost track of it since the 1990's, though. Do you know the car???