pet1

The steering in my 02 jeep grand has become much harder and it's been this way for a few years now. It has just under 175k miles. I don't hear any noises other than what sounds like air when I turn the steering wheel left and right, even the slightest. I'm assuming it's in the power steering pump. There are no knocking sounds. I also don't have a leak. My fluid level has been the same. I did notice though that if the car goes on a lift and gets driven right after the steering is a little better but then reverts back to being really tight. Another thing I noticed was about a month ago I went a way and left my cherokee without being driven for about 5 days. I drove it for about 2 days and it felt a little better and then went right back to being tight. I have to move the wheel a decent amount for the wheels to actually turn. That's the best way I can explain it without anyone looking at it. Thanks in advance.


This was posted in a wrong forum previously.

dave1123

Check the lower ball joints. They could be worn enough for the spindle carrier to be riding on the axle horn, thus supporting all the weight metal-on-metal. Happened on mine.