Intermittent Tight Steering

2007 Tacoma, 88k miles. I've owned it for over a year and have had no problems with the steering. Lately, however I've noticed that the steering sometimes is stiffer than at other times. It comes and goes. This happens going slow or fast, straight or on curves. Tire pressure is right and the truck tracks straight. Power steering fluid is at the right level. Could this be a bad power steering pump or bad rack? Or something else? How do I check for these? Thanks!

 

I had something very similar happen about a year ago, coincidently about 90k on it too. Here's where it will become obvious I'm mechanically challenged, but it turned out to be a steering knuckle? Something along those lines, I can look through my paperwork and find exactly the part but the dealer told me it was the first time they ever saw it in a tacoma.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/259415-power-steering-steering-issue.html

check your steering shaft. this thread may be benificial

 

Sticky U-joint is what causes the problem. I'm told by a Toyota mechanic to use something like WD40 on it, something that won't attract dirt, etc.

Thanks for the help!

 

thanks for posting back