Could also be a binding ball joint.
Binding steering is a definate trouble sign!
You really dont want to have a ball joint failure while driving, even at parking lot speeds ALOT of damage occurs when ball joint fails.
Tiffs car had a binding steering for about a week before her lower ball joint popped out.
Dont procrasintate, atleast get the car checked out ASAP.
"Any pics of the boot? I looked for it before but got confused."
Nope, but if you look right where the shaft meets the rack you will see it. Its more like a hat, just lift up the edge and apply silicone grease. May not be your problem, but in my case my steering made noise and would not return to center. I have a custom shaft with a u-joint and other parts. I thought that was the source of the noise once I ruled out the clock spring. Odds are its not it, but I thought I would throw it out there anyway, just incase! Mine got so bad I hated to drive for fear of something in the steering failing.
I'll check that. Thing is though that when i pulled it out of the garage onto a 1/2" of snow it was nice n easy like i want it to be.
Time for the Turkey Baster to suck out all that bad crude, reill with Mercon 5, do a couple lock to lock twists on the wheel, suck out and refill again, and repeat one more time and that will take care of the black part.
If the front end is tight could it still be a bad bj even though it doesn't make any noise?
Just remove the oulet side of the P/S cooler line and drain with the car running, it might take 3 guys for this but have one turn the wheel lock to lock and one pouring fluid in while your down there manageing the outlet line. Do this till it run's clean and reconect the line. I do the same procedure for the transmission. As far as fluid, I'm not to sure about merc 5. If it work's or not but I just use STP P/S fluid.