2005 Tacoma...Hard to steer!!!

I have a 2005 Tacoma. Has run great for 8 years, but recently developed a steering problem. Sometimes, it it is fine and at other times it just feels like there is no power steering. Super hard to turn the wheel and you gotta put some muscle into it when going around corners. No rhyme or reason as to when this happens. Today, it was hard to drive. Tomorrow might seem normal. Fluid level looks good. Backyard mechanic didn't see anything noticeably wrong with the front end. Has this happened to anyone else??? Any ideas what might be causing this???

 

Not saying this is it, but worth looking at. Someone posted a month ago or so saying they needed to grease their steering column u joint. The shaft that goes from the steering wheel down to the steering rack has a u joint or 2. It was binding up from being dried up.

Does the power steering pump make any noise when trying to turn?

 

I agree that this is the most likely culprit.

 

I had the same problem in the summer, but in the winter it went away and hasn't occurred since

 

Having the exact same issue on my 07 Taco. Came on looking to see if anyone had a suggestion. Did the u-joint fix your issue?

 

I had the same issue during winter, sprayed penetrating oil on it and has been fine ever since.

 

this +1, after every snow when riding on the road through the ice melt chemicals/road salt