jamming steering wheel

[Thunderchild]

this morning my steering wheel started being stiff, what could be the cause I don't have power syeering so uit rules that out (thank goodness) but its worrying me I can't afford repairs and I need the car to get to a job (if ever I find one)

[SlackAlice]

Make of Car, Year etc ?

[Thunderchild]

ford fiesta quarz 1996 1119 cc

[furrycheeky]

Low/flat front tyres?

[Thunderchild]

erm no

[david1702198]

have both front ball joints checked, have seen one or two in my time seize up and cause stiff steering and a creaking noise.

[Thunderchild]

david its not so much a case of total stiff steering, the steering wheel is stiff in the straight position at 1/4 a turn either way its normal again, but if I turn it completely it get stiff again when it passes the straight position (say on a shrp bend) its like a problem on the colum maybe ? there is no creeking noise as of yet

[SBK1]

I recently had to change the whole steering column with the same issue, the roller bearings had become losse in their housing and were dropping out, but the remaining bearings were jamming against the column. When I looked closely I found small pieces of bearing on the floor of the car. Depending on model of car replacement bearings may be able to be sourced.

[Thunderchild]

well its a fairly popular car but where should I be looking for stuff falling out ?