Why does my steering wheel lock when i turn?

Today when i was driving I was making a right turn and my steering wheel just got stuck, it was really wierd. it got stuck for a few seconds. than i was able to turn it. can somebody tell me why?:

Are you hearing a squealing sound when you try to turn the wheels? If so, check the tension on the belt for the power steering pump. Check it anyway. If the belt slips, you could momentarily lose the hydraulic assist, which would make it seem to lock up.

Beyond that, basic stuff, check your tire pressures. If they're fine and the belt is fine, then you could be losing your power steering pump. Check the fluid level in it, if you can look down inside the fill tube and see the cast iron pump body itself, the fluid is too low. Cavitation (pumping air instead of fluid) will cause momentary loss of assist as well. Cavitation is accompanied by a howling sound that is dependent on engine speed, usually caused by low fluid level but sometimes is caused by a damaged pump.

If the fluid is fine, air pressure in the tires are fine and the belt is fine, then you might have some mechanical failure in either the pump or the gearbox.

Remember Occam's razor - all else being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the right one.

Today when i was driving I was making a right turn and my steering wheel just got stuck, it was really wierd. it got stuck for a few seconds. than i was able to turn it. can somebody tell me why?:


what size tires ? stock height ? stock sized rims ?

Another possibility is rust in the outer jacket of the lower steering column, just like this B-Body:

http://www.wwdsltd.com/files/94column.jpg