My girlfriend has an 09 GT. 4.6l 3 valve with 5 speed manual. It's been lowered and has 20 in rims. The other day we noticed the steering was getting a little stiff. Not bad just noticeable. It's mainly at low speeds.it feels to me as if it's got a little catch in the steering. As it will get a little tighter after about 1/4 turn and then it lossend back up. It does this both ways right or left. Again it's only at low speed and rpms. Fluid is full but it's a dark brownish color. Belt seems ok because no other issues as it's a serpentine belt. Also when driving at low speeds it doesn't come back to center by itself after turning. Usually it would kind of come back straight after turning if I let go of the wheel. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Update***
now have rack and pinion and still the problem hasnt been fixed

 

How much has it been lowered? The s197 suspension wasn't designed to handle 20's very well or too be lowered more than an inch without modifying the suspension geometry.

Have the alignment checked out. Caster and or Camver is probably out of spec.

 

Double check the connection joint, driver side. Mine was loose in my 2013 and caused some issues like that, a bolt had backed out. Just look for the rod going from the fire wall down to the rack and pinion.

 

Had put another pump on it and it seemed to again clear up the issue for a few days. Then it started again. I did notice that if it got stiff I could jerk the wheel just a little bit and it would loosen up. Now as of last night I checked the PS fluid which was just about the min. mark. Whe. Putting the cap back on the res. I separated the actual cap and the chrome cap that goes over. But I made sure that cap was really secure because the cap cover was a little wiggly. Then I put the cap cover back on and tightened it with its set screw that holds it to the original cap. Anywho driving to the store didn't really feel it get stiff. Then again coming home. I told my girl anout it and she immediately didn't believe me and made me pull over so she could drive and feel for herself. Then this morning she goes to work and calls me on her lunch per the usual. Again she says all seems to be ok just like it was before PS decided to go ape****. Any one with any info would be amazing. I'm so confused now. I'm not even sure this this is even a mustang anymore. Hell it might be a camaro. What's my name again? This car is driving me insane......

 

thank you sir. You are awesome. That's exactly what the problem was. It was the top u joint on the intermediate steering shaft. It froze up on and wasn't movable at all. Took it out cleaned it up really good. Then put a bunch of grease on it and worked it until it was free again. Now steering is back to normal.

 

I'm glad that it was helpful and you got it fixed!

Where in NC are you located? I lived in Winston Salem for 4 years, moved back to Michigan 2 years ago.

 

salisbury. Funnt thing i used to live in michigan. I mived up there for about 5 years. I live in and around the berrien springs, bucannan area.

 

Very familiar with Salisbury, we looked at houses there but decided on Winston Salem.

I live in SE Michigan - we moved to Port Huron when I was around 2 or 3, lived in Mt. Pleasant for college and then ended up going back when I was offered a position up there, then to Saline before going back up to Mt. Pleasant. Moved back to Port Huron when my satellite law office got busy there, and then down to Winston in 2017 until we returned to Michigan in 2021 and bought a place in Brighton.