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.

 

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.