Steering is tight

I noticed last night, and it got worse today, that if I am driving straight, and try to turn to the left, the steering is very tight. But if I keep moving the steering wheel, it's normal, until I go straight again for just a small amount, and try to turn left again. It's not near as bad when I turn right. To me it kinda feels like something needs greased. Would I be right? If so, where should I look at? Also, the car has no power steering. Thanks.

(Not sure how mechanically inclined you are so sorry if some of this is obvious)

Could be several things.

I think the most likely cause is the steering universal joint under the dash. It connects the steering wheel shaft to the steering rack. Not sure how easy it would be to see but it should be near the pedals.
Try this while stopped, turn the wheel and make note of the steering wheel angle when the stiffness occurs, keep turning the steering wheel the same way and if the stiffness comes back again at the same angle it's likely to be the problem.

Also possible is one or more of the ball joints in the front suspension could be dried out or worn. For example: tie rods joints, upper or lower ball joints. Each should have a rubber boot and if any are damaged or missing the joint is probably bad.

Also possible but less likely is the steering rack might be worn or dried out because there are rubber boots on either end of the steering rack that protect the guts of the rack.

In any case this is very serious and hope you get this checked as soon as possible.

GL

Could also be the axles. They got hot when they are dry (boot cracked and lost all grease)and start to seize. Check your cv boots. It could be the rack as well but then it would do it whether you were stopped or moving.

Well, I figured out the culprit. Not sure exactly what it's called, probably the steering rack that was mentioned. Comes out of the steering box with a boot. The boot was ripped in half, and the shaft with gears on it, was bone dry. I greased it up to see if that helped, and it's smooth as butter now. Hopefully this won't cost too much to fix. Thanks everyone.

That is your steering rack. Its rack and pinion so basically that bar that has teeth gets pushed back and forth by a gear.