I have been having a steering issue.

symptoms-
Very stiff steering from cold start (slowly gets better with driving but stiff again as soon as vehicle cools)
Jerky (As turning the wheel it will be stiff for a quarter turn then hit a soft stop then get stiff again)
Slight clunk (Feels like it’s in the steering shaft which shows slight play but it seems unrelated)
Hasnt been properly aligned after replacing below mentioned parts but symptoms same as before

replaced in order-
Power steering pump without new reseviour
Rack and pinion with pressure hose and tie rod ends

My idea-
Figured it was a pressure issue. Loosing prime while sitting. No visible leaks. Now I’m stumped. Last things to replace are reseviour and hard line of the return hose.

Any other suggestions?

 

Something else binding in the system? Balljoints? Got a bad pump? (I went thru two of the crardone units before buying another brand that actually worked....

 

Your lower intermediate steering shaft is bad. It's a common problem and it will cause that quarter turn binding.

As you drive you work the joint and it tends to loosen up a bit.