Would bad ball joints cause stiff steering?

[patina]

My steering is extremely heavy all of a sudden (like you have to put some weight into the wheel to do a full-lock u-turn) and I'm wondering which components could cause such a thing?

It's heavy from parking lot speeds up to highway speeds, doesn't get much easier once rolling. Feels like something is binding but no strange noises ie grinding.

Tire pressures are good. Just pulled the boots and the rack had plenty of grease but I added more (graphite) anyways. Front wheel bearing "collars" were properly adjusted less than a year ago.

Ideas?

[turbo owner]

Steering shaft and tie rod ends could cause problems too

[JFairman]

I think you'll have to jack the front up and turn the wheels while they're off the ground to figure out what's going on.
Check everything from the steering column bearings inside the car on down. The U joints in the smuggler box, the steering rack which seems most likely, and the shocks inside the front struts. The strut shock inserts have to rotate internally when you turn the wheels.

I've replaced the ball joints and tie rods along with everything else in the front end of my car and when they become worn the ball joints and tie rods are actually looser than new ones so I doubt they would be causing this.
The rubber boots on them usually dry rot and crack letting in water and dirt after 15 to 20 years depending on climate.

The ball joints are fun to replace... you need a special socket and torque wrench for the nut on the bottom to tighten the new ones correctly.
If doing the job while the car is on the ground and the front end is up on jack stands a floor jack works good to hold the socket up and on the nut while you torque it so it doesn't slip and round off the cogs on the socket. The socket goes for around $35.
A hammer and chisel works good to remove the old nut. A pipe wrench with sharp teeth in the jaws can work too. The socket could remove the old nut if it isn't corroded on but if it slips while pulling on it you could round off the cogs and damage the socket.

[patina]

Originally Posted by JFairman

I think you'll have to jack the front up and turn the wheels while they're off the ground to figure out what's going on.
Check everything from the steering column bearings inside the car on down. The U joints in the smuggler box, the steering rack which seems most likely, and the shocks inside the front struts. The strut shock inserts have to rotate internally when you turn the wheels.

I've replaced the ball joints and tie rods along with everything else in the front end of my car and when they become worn the ball joints and tie rods are actually looser than new ones so I doubt they would be causing this.
The rubber boots on them usually dry rot and crack letting in water and dirt after 15 to 20 years depending on climate.

The ball joints are fun to replace... you need a special socket and torque wrench for the nut on the bottom to tighten the new ones correctly.
If doing the job while the car is on the ground and the front end is up on jack stands a floor jack works good to hold the socket up and on the nut while you torque it so it doesn't slip and round off the cogs on the socket. The socket goes for around $35.
A hammer and chisel works good to remove the old nut. A pipe wrench with sharp teeth in the jaws can work too. The socket could remove the old nut if it isn't corroded on but if it slips while pulling on it you could round off the cogs and damage the socket.

First of all, thank you for taking the time to respond thoroughly.

Your comment on the shock inserts is interesting because the front struts do seem worn, they are a bit "bouncy" over dips/bumps. Also, this issue is temperature dependent. It worsens when the temperature gets below ~45* ambient and is non-existent when ambient temps are over 60*.

Could this support the shock insert theory?

[JFairman]

It could.
I just checked and special socket is $55 now.

The special socket is at the top of this page and the nut for the ball joint is down at the bottom. Ball joints are in the middle.
You need a new pin and lock nut for attaching the ball joint to the bottom of the strut. The locking plates for the nut were in good condition on mine so I reused them.

They're all on this page...
Pelican Parts - European Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche • BMW • Mercedes • Volkswagen • Audi • Saab • Volvo • MINI

[krasuskyp]

bad steering rack bearings would also exhibit such symptom

good luck

[Skillet83]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but the title of this thread seems to be right up Ronnie's exhaust. Hehe

[krasuskyp]

Originally Posted by Skillet83

...right up Ronnie's exhaust...

Ronknees' "exhaust"... and this after a SLOW WEEK!!! (Ronknees ----> ) :

[Skillet83]

Lmao. Guess I should have said tail pipe! I still have not seen that Vaseline holster.

[krasuskyp]

Oh, in ^'that case'^... here's his frontal "protrusion":

[Ronnie's.930]

Wouldn't bad balls cause one to steer limp?!?! I hear that's the diagnosis Paul recently got handed to him!

Frying Pan, you'll feel the holstered vaseline before you see it - prepare thyself, bro!

[turbo owner]

Originally Posted by krasuskyp

Ronknees' "exhaust"... and this after a SLOW WEEK!!! (Ronknees ----> ) :

If that's ronnies hole, I want to dig around in there and see what I could find.

Ronnie, can I dig around in your hole? That hole is a diamond mine.

[Ronnie's.930]

^^^

Hey T.O., do you have a hazmat suit . . . or three?! And a really big shovel?! Might consider bringing a parachute, too!

[turbo owner]

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

^^^

Hey T.O., do you have a hazmat suit . . . or three?! And a really big shovel?! Might consider bringing a parachute, too!

I'd wear 3 and bring a shovel if I can keep what I find down in that diamond mine Paul posted a pic of.

[Skillet83]

Heh, that protrusion looks a little small.