I have a 2004 Dakota with approx. 40K miles. A few days ago I got in it to run an errand and the power steering suddenly felt much stiffer to turn than when previously driven. I checked the fluid and it isn't leaking or low and the belt turning the pump is fine. Tires all have proper inflation. Could ball joints have anything to do with this? I think I read somewhere once that Dakotas like mine were known to have premature failing of the upper ball joints. If not, what else should I look for that might be causing this to happen?

Sounds like either the p/s pump is going out or the joints in the steering shaft have seized. My Durango pump went out all at once. No assist whatsoever and I could barely turn the steering wheel. I had read about the steering shaft joints getting stiff or seizing but mine had already been replaced.
Ball joints would prematurely wear out and come apart. I happened to be standing in the driveway one day when my son stopped by in his Dakota. I heard the clunk and saw the tire jerk as he turned in. Needless to say, he went home with new ball joints.


Tim

I just went through he exact same thing with my '04 Dakota. Mine was the two little universals in the steering shaft. I squirted oil on both universals and it cured the problem. That's where I'd check first.

my 03 dakota did that once on a cold winter day,it broke loose and worked ok after a minute or so,
back in the 80'sgm had problems with the seals in the rack binding up in cold weather,the fix was to hone out the rack and use new seals

Try spraying W-D 40 on steering shaft universal. Common problem, especially when not driven often.

And spraying anything on the steering shaft is only a temporary fix..If they're rusty/seized enough to get tight they need replaced... Last shaft I kept spraying would get loose temporarily..When I replaced it you could hold it straight out the universals were that bad they wouldn't bend anymore than they had to...

Yes, my mistake. I should have included this was to pinpoint problem, not a "fix".