steering resistance...need advice

[Lee]

I've read all the posts I could find on this, but I haven't found one that matches my problem completely...

One day, the steering on my '78SC suddenly got very tight. I felt a great deal of resistance in turning in either direction, whether from a stop or at speeds over 20 mph. I feel the resistance turning it, and in returning it to center. When I feel the strong resistance, I also hear a sort of groaning noise, which seem to be coming from inside the steering wheel, or perhaps the column.

While the stiff resistance doestn't occur all the time, the steering isn't nearly so good as before this started.

I checked tire pressure, lubed the u-joint in the smugglers box, but not much in the way of improvement. I haven't lubed the upper joint, yet.

I wonder about the groaning noise when it really tightens up. Could this be a sign tht the steering column bushing needs replacing? However, I thought that this condition was usually accompanied by loose steering.

Any help is appreciated, before I go tearing the guts out of my steering column.

[einreb]

Steering rack?

[tycharle964]

steering rack, u-joints or tie rods


bust the two u joints off and turn your steering wheel....if it spins freely you know it is either u-joints or steering rack/tie-rods


once seperated , turn front wheels from left to right by hand...if it is hard more than likely steering rack