Steering - what's wrong

[teamfee3]

I noticed it was very slightly nothcy then today if seems to freeze up slightly at slow speeds turning and it happens not too far off center. Is it a u-joint, bushing, not sure. At about 30-45mph it's smooth if I do a light weave back and forth and I do notice it more the more I turn. It's not consistant either. The only place I looked was in the trunk through the access panel and everything appeared and moved OK. Also, safe to drive until fixed?

[glennspiegler]

Check your tie rod ends. Lift the front end to do so. Check play and turning with your hands on the the front tire.

[burgermeister]

Spray some WD40 on the U-joint in the smuggler's box. They sometimes get dry and notchy. If it fixes it, oil it a bit once a year and it will be fine.

[Milo2361]

this happened to me - - it was the lower steering shaft bearing - the one that sits under that gold colored strap in your pics. saved me alot of time figureing that out instead of trying to take off the tie rods and all that stuff.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=911-347-029-00-OEM&catalog_description=Steering%20Shaft%20Bearing%2C% 20911%2F911%20Turbo%20(1974-89)

there it is on our host's website! - - when i took it out of my car it basically fell apart in my hand!