Rack and pinion help.

Hello rx8club, this is my first post here, first off I am an owner of a 04 rx 8 red micah, very clean with fresh rebuild only 700 miles on it so far, 127,000 original miles. Well here's my situation, yesterday I was on my way to work and was up the street making a left town down the street of my job and my steering wheel LOCKED, LIKE LITERALLY mid way through a turn, and I couldn't swerve right because that was right back into traffic. Anyways I let the car roll to a curb since I can't complete the turn, once I came to a stop I shut off the car and turned back on but no luck, gave one last pull at the wheel and after a popping noise it was free, however making left left turns now I can do with one finger and right hand turns requires some muscle, not alot but it's noticable. Went back and looked under the hood to find a screw sticking out right next to my rack and pinion joint I'm thinking it was from the ac, but was able to push screw back in and tighten back. Figured that's why it locked on me screw got caught but I'm stuck with the issue of how the car turns. I've tried everything today down to cleaning the harness with electrical cleaner, trying to balance out the steering fluid, and recalibrating it but no luck. I've been looking through alot of the forums but can't find a solid answer. Did the rack and pinion bend maybe? Any ideas guys? Gonna be looking back into it tomorrow morning I can post some pictured if that'll help.

Rack and pinion help.