cougar

Seems like every time I let the 01 sit for a couple weeks or longer the steering gets stiff. It will stay that way until I drive it for about 50 miles or so. It feels like it takes twice the effort to turn the wheel and then you have to turn it further than usual to get it to start turning. After that, it's bump the wheel back and forth to try and keep it straight. After a while, it's happy again. Kinda like me when I wake up in the morning. Any Ideas?

SIXSLUG

PS pump would be my guess...

cougar

Well, if the PS pump was that weak, then you'd think it would effect your brakes as well, but mine are fine. I'm leaning toward something with a ball and socket like a rod end or ball joint just by the way it feels when it is fighting me. The trick is how to troubleshoot this with limited tear apart.

SIXSLUG

Steering shaft?

Maybe you aren't warmed up in those first few miles either!!

cougar

It feels like I'm pushing the axle side to side before the wheels turn. My experience with the shaft is it causes free play in the wheel and sloppy steering. My truck has neither.

SIXSLUG

Maybe the outlet screen in the pump is dirty. I have read it can cause low flow in the pump, but not too easy to get to IIRC...

cougar

I'll have to check that.
Had the front end off the ground yesterday. Turned everything every direction and couldn't find or feel anything abnormal. Greased everything and turned it again. No difference. Put my summer tires on and called it good for now.

VADSLRAM

I had an issue with old PS fluid. Cold mornings everything was stiff if it was really cold (relatively for VA that is) then I would have tough braking.
I did a complete flush and put in synthetic and even one morning this January where it was 5 degrees I had easy steering and smooth brakes.
It may not be your issue but it could never hurt and it's a cheap check.

torquefan

I wonder if something could have gone wrong inside the steering damper. You could try driving it with the damper removed, but it will probably steer with less effort even if nothing's wrong with it.