steering locks when driving on curved streets

[chato de shamrock]

Hi. This is my first post on a section thats not about car modeling. Please bare with me, im not much of a mechanic.

I own an 82 Cutlass (The OG ride). A little over a month ago i had some steering fluid leaking from the metal "box" where you apply the steering fluid. It was changed and my problem was solved. However, I then noticed there was power steering fluid gathering elsewhere. Since i dont know exact part names, please allow me to describe the situation. The metal "box" where you add power steering fluid has a hose that transfers the fluid to the end of a long metal piece that runs up to the dashboard and connects to the steering wheel. That metal piece where steering fluid is transfered to had some fluid gathering and i had to change it. Once it was changed I was told the steering wheel would feel hard to turn left and right, but would loosen up in time. Since i had this work done I noticed my steering wheel locked up a little.

About 2 weeks ago I was driving the car and approaching a curve. I turned the wheel slightly to take the curve and once i tried streightening it, I felt it lock/get stuck. I normaly drive with one hand but couldnt pull the steering wheel back in its straight position untill i held it with both hands and pulled it. I heard a "pop" noise behind the steering wheel, around the dashboard area. It did that to me two more times after that and would most of the time get stuck/locked lightly enough that i can pull it back with one hand. I had the steering pump fixed yesterday and drove it this morning. The problem got much worse as i noticed it locked up very tightly many times while i drove to work. On my way back home from work it locked up tight enough that pulling it with both hands wouldnt loosen the steering wheel. I found myself driving onto on coming traffic lanes and needing to stop the car completely before i entered the on coming traffic lanes. I also noticed the steering wheel would lock on me when i turned it slightly while driving in a streight line.

Does anyone know what might be the problem here? I've asked several people and they all come to the same conclussion that one of the parts i changed might be faulty, but I feel the steering wheel get stuck and am wondering if the steering fluid is even getting transfered through the steering wheel. Why else would i hear that "pop" noise in the dashboard area when i pull the steering wheel to one side to loosen it back up?

Like always, i greatly appreciate the time you guys take to read and/or answer my threads.

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by chato de shamrock

Hi. This is my first post on a section thats not about car modeling. Please bare with me, im not much of a mechanic.

I own an 82 Cutlass (The OG ride). A little over a month ago i had some steering fluid leaking from the metal "box" where you apply the steering fluid. It was changed and my problem was solved. However, I then noticed there was power steering fluid gathering elsewhere. Since i dont know exact part names, please allow me to describe the situation. The metal "box" where you add power steering fluid has a hose that transfers the fluid to the end of a long metal piece that runs up to the dashboard and connects to the steering wheel. That metal piece where steering fluid is transfered to had some fluid gathering and i had to change it. Once it was changed I was told the steering wheel would feel hard to turn left and right, but would loosen up in time. Since i had this work done I noticed my steering wheel locked up a little.

About 2 weeks ago I was driving the car and approaching a curve. I turned the wheel slightly to take the curve and once i tried streightening it, I felt it lock/get stuck. I normaly drive with one hand but couldnt pull the steering wheel back in its straight position untill i held it with both hands and pulled it. I heard a "pop" noise behind the steering wheel, around the dashboard area. It did that to me two more times after that and would most of the time get stuck/locked lightly enough that i can pull it back with one hand. I had the steering pump fixed yesterday and drove it this morning. The problem got much worse as i noticed it locked up very tightly many times while i drove to work. On my way back home from work it locked up tight enough that pulling it with both hands wouldnt loosen the steering wheel. I found myself driving onto on coming traffic lanes and needing to stop the car completely before i entered the on coming traffic lanes. I also noticed the steering wheel would lock on me when i turned it slightly while driving in a streight line.

Does anyone know what might be the problem here? I've asked several people and they all come to the same conclussion that one of the parts i changed might be faulty, but I feel the steering wheel get stuck and am wondering if the steering fluid is even getting transfered through the steering wheel. Why else would i hear that "pop" noise in the dashboard area when i pull the steering wheel to one side to loosen it back up?

Like always, i greatly appreciate the time you guys take to read and/or answer my threads.

You are at a point here you better have a shop look at this before something dangerous occurs. The rack could be bad, the joint from the steering shaft to the rack could be binding, lots of possibilities here, you need on site diagnosis.