why a tight steering wheel?

My 1996 Cirrus had a hole in the exhaust manifold, which was replaced.
A couple days later I noticed something strange which the Dodge
mechanics, while aknowledging it exists, can't figure it out yet. I've
no idea if it's related to the exhaust replacement or not.

Turns and wiggling the wheel back and forth is fine. After 20 mph and
even more so after 40-50mph the wheel is very tight... like no play at
all. I can control the car just fine but it's a much heavier steer.
Fluid level is fine.

Now in other cars I've had power steering fluid leaks and power
steering pumps go out and the result has always been really really hard
steering from a standstill but easier steering at higher speeds. This
is the opposite.

Is there anything I can tell the mechanic to specifically look for or
test?
They've had it 2 days with no luck so far.

thanks
Randy

 

Crimped hose is my guess

 

most dealer techs will not install a power steering test kit that d.c has
made a essential tool meaning all dealers have this tool on hand
i have used it many a times and it will tell the tech if trhe rack is bad
or binding or the power steering pump is bad and if both are indeed ok and
the factory manual has it spelled out clearly so techs like max can
understand it but i would bet he never has used it

 

Interesting. Well as a followup.... The 5 star Dodge dealer couldn't
"guarantee" the trouble was in the rack (they were 70% sure). I had no
problem paying to fix it but I told them that if they installed a new
$700 rack and the problem was still there they would have to put the
old one back on and not charge me. They said no so I said bye. They
told me it was either the rack or PS pump but they couldn't be sure.
I'm not paying $700 bucks and then not have the car fixed.

They also said it wasn't a serious problem in that if it is the rack or
pump it would slowly get worse... and if it got to the point that it
was really bothering me they would be glad to take another look.

Funny thing is on driving it home it's now 10x better than it was. Not
perfect but much improved, and I have no idea why. Maybe after a couple
days it will revert back to tight?

&$$*&%# Car dealers!!!! The Chryler dealer across the street is no
better so it may be back to an independent.

R
-----

 

The reason I suggested a crimped hose is that maybe they moved something
during the previous repair and crimped a hose. I had 2 91 Ford Taurus's.
After a repair the power steering was noisy. Even at rest it made a sound
like it makes when you were turning hard (maybe too hard..... people should
not be straining the rack by turning the wheel all the way). Dealer swore
it was normal and could not resolve it. I was getting rid of the car soon
anyway and decided to forget it. In any case, years later, Ford had a TSB
on Taurus's including my year that stated that power steering noises could
be resolved by ensuring hoses were not crimped during installation. So I
was thinking that maybe if a hose was crimped badly enuf, maybe it could
affect the steering feel.

 

you can take it to max and he will sell ya both mand then find a binding
balljoint is the cause