Power steering failure?

[JuBean]

This is something I know jack didly about but the last three days I have had problems with the steering cutting out. My first thought was a bad ball joint/s sending the steering into a bit of a bind but the wiggle test feels good. The drivers ball joints are 3 years old and the tie rod ends are about 8 months old yet at completley random moments the steering just locks up and I have to quickly yank on the wheel to break it free. Once it has been 'broken free' it opperates like normal and while it is locked out the belt is not slipping on the power steering pump. As said the failure is totally random and I have yet to find an event or series of events that triggers the lockout. Is this the warning sign my pump is about to give me the middle finger or do I need to look at the steering joints again?

93 ranger, 2.3l T with the ranger accessories

[shawns 64 F100]

well to really find out whats wrong I would suggest a few things to check, one is to find out if you might have a bad bearing in your steering column, you can disconnect it from the gear box and turn the wheel and feel if it is rough and binding, as well, disconnect the pitman arm and turn both wheels together, being as how everything has been recently replaced, it all should turn smoothly, then turn the gear box itself, it should have light rolling resistance all of this should be checked by an expert, but it sounds to me like a bad gear box. sector shaft prob was never adjusted when alignment was done (they never do that) lol . some vehicles have power assist where there is a valve controlls the hydraulic pressure up to a certain speed then it runs bypass and its all manual, it could be the power assist valve, if it does have this you will find it located between thep ump pressure line and gear box

[JuBean]

I do not recall seeing anything on the high pressure line so it is doubtfull I have the power assist.
Thanks for the checklist, I will give them all a whirl this week and hope for something cheap to fix:p

[Warrlord]

About 4 years ago, my steering did that at random. At first, it was few & far between but it progressively did it more & more over a few months time after the first time I experienced it. I took the gearbox apart & found a chunks (teeth missing) out of the sector shaft.....................It was time for a new steering gear.

Ford wanted almost 400 bux for one with a 12 month warranty. Autozone wanted 180 bux for a lifetime warranty gear. I bought the Autozone gear. Almost a year after that, the aluminum cover (bearing support) on top cracked & leaked fluid. I got home, took off the gear, ran to the Zone, they gave me a new one no questions asked...............so far, so good on this gear

[JuBean]

About 4 years ago, my steering did that at random. At first, it was few & far between but it progressively did it more & more over a few months time after the first time I experienced it. I took the gearbox apart & found a chunks (teeth missing) out of the sector shaft.....................It was time for a new steering gear.

Ford wanted almost 400 bux for one with a 12 month warranty. Autozone wanted 180 bux for a lifetime warranty gear. I bought the Autozone gear. Almost a year after that, the aluminum cover (bearing support) on top cracked & leaked fluid. I got home, took off the gear, ran to the Zone, they gave me a new one no questions asked...............so far, so good on this gear$180 for a gear:eek:
Sad thing is with my luck that is exactly my problem and since it only has 225K hard miles on it......