I've had a clicking comming from under my dash that is related to the steering shaft. Up until today it wasn't hard to turn the wheel, but would make a few popping noises on a full turn. I've been neglecting it due to lack of time. Today I almost wrecked the truck because all of a sudden the steering wheel became much harder (read: amost impossible) to turn...This happened while making a turn @ 25 mph. Then, finally the steering wheel snapped (loudly) and I could finish my turn. Gave me a good scare, and now the it is really hard to steer. Anybody else ever hear of this on a 1st gen? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like a steering u-joint was going out (clicking), eventually seized (couldn't turn) and then it busted loose (u-joint is fubar) and you got a R/R to do on the u-joint. Nothing to it.

 

it gets better....I pulled out all the plastic covers...u-joints looked ok, turned the wheel back and forth...lots of crunching, popping, etc...then it was fine for no reason...drove around for 30min trying to get it to act funny again but it feels fine. ?????????!!! WTF