why is my steering wheel so hard to turn

I have a base model 96 tacoma 5 lug single cab rwd. It doesn't have power steering so i expect it to be a little hard to turn but mine is ridiculous. Its a whole workout just turning a corner. Its so stiff, can anyone tell me what it could be or how to fix it.

 

He said he had no power steering (personally didn't know that was a choice even in the late 90's haha) I wouldn't know where to start, short of checking all the bushings for anything that would hamper movement.

 

Depends what he meant. Is the power steering out or there never was power steering?

If it did have it at one time and it just doesnt work now, then itll be hard to turn since you are forcing the fluid theough the pump. Easy way around this is connecting the input/output lines on the rack itself and itll be way easier. Before connecting them together crank the steering wheel each direction a few times.

 

Where the steering shaft meets the steering box is a U joint spray the living shit out of it with a penetrating oil

 

Ermagherd.

 

Low front tire pressure.

 

OP, are you moving while turning the wheel?

 

agreed ^^^^

with manual steering you have to use both hands to turn the wheel.

just to test if the steering is too tight, you need to jack both front wheels off the ground at the same time and then turn the steering wheel, if it turns ok then its a combination of low tire pressures and sitting still. when rolling its not hard to turn the wheel but when not rolling it can be very hard to turn.

 

Im going to try that out because when its sitting still i can barely move the wheel. When im driving i have to get leverage to pull the wheel. Its extremely hard.

 

I can barely turn my wheel when i sitting still and when i drive its still difficult. It takes alot to turn a corner. If a jack it up and its still hard to turn what does that mean. And if the box is too tight how do i loosen it

 

Yes

 

Check the fluid in the pump you don't have.

 

My truck doesn't have power steering at all. Like from the factory

 

It didnt come with power steering at all. Theres no pump or anything.

 

I thought they all did in those years. Maybe not.

 

Yea my truck is the base of the base models lol.

 

I had a '78 2wd with no power steering (back in those days Americans were tough, ps wasn't even available). The steering started to feel weird and have spots where it was harder to turn. I took the steering gearbox out and took it apart (no rack and pinion on a truck in those days, it was recirculating ball bearing). I cleaned it out with solvent, put it back together and filled it up with fresh gear oil. The steering was like new, it took about 2 hours.

 

Do you think mine has the same type of bearing in it.

 

you're not eating enough tacos...

increase your taco and bean intake, then try again.

 

I don't know if your's has a rack and pinion or recirculating ball bearing steering gearbox.