2012 Power Steering tight at times

2012 Tacoma 4.0 with 98,000 miles.

Power steering feels hard to turn at times. It will turn fine part way though turn and then feel a little hard through it and come back out of it. Sometimes the wheel won’t spin back smoothly after a turn. Seems to do it more turning to the left. It just feels like it has a catch in it part way through a turn. No power steering whining or leaks that I can see or hear.

will changing the fluid or spraying that steering U joint give me a fix?

thanks in advance

 

Spraying that joint won’t hurt.
Might as well give it a try.

 

Spray it till you can replace it but it will fail completely eventually

 

Holy rust-bucket, Batman!!

 

Does Rock Auto carry that part? I ask because I don’t see it listed.

thanks

 

I had the same symptoms and changing that part out fixed it. I got mine from Boch Toyota parts online. Was actually cheaper for an OEM one that the ones at autozone, napa, advanced auto, etc.

 

I've seen 500 year old skeletal remains unearthed from deep sea shipwrecks that looked more intact than that

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...steering-shaft-replacement-and-review.544954/

 

LOL, That’s not my picture.
It’s just what I think of every time someone has these symptoms.
I remember seeing it and I haven’t forgot about it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rusty-steering-column.653313/

 

I believe this is what I need?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233620803107

 

That does appear to be correct.

this is another option if your so inclined.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-lower-steering-shaft-rebuild-diy.543377/