stiff/rough steering and grinding/rubbing noise
 

Hey guys, I'm having a problem with the steering in my 04, I've read the power steering threads but this seems to be a different issue. When turning the wheel it sometimes becomes very stiff and hard to turn and makes a grinding or rubbing noise, almost as if something is too tight and restricting the wheel from turning properly. It only happens intermittently though and steers fine most of the time, but when it happens as you're turning a corner it can be kinda scary when you suddenly can't turn the wheel anymore and have to force it to turn. The sound seems as if its coming from right behind the wheel, it's in the cabin not under the hood. The people in this thread describe the problem too: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...steering+noise. Hopefully somebody can help me out with this as most of the threads I'm finding are about power steering failures.

anyone know what the problem could be?

Did you get this issue fixed? I noticed something very similar 3-5 days ago and couldn't figure it out, went and power washed the 8 last night & a ton of leaves came out of inbetween/behind/under the wheels, smooth sailing now :)

i am not able to remove my air intake. its stock. ive taken out the bolts on the front and what not and every video i have seen on youtube they make it look so easy. what am i missing? i was told to remove it so i can get to the wires below and clean them as a remedy for the messed up steering

* taken the nuts off

wow nevermind on that part im a tard. anyways i may need help once i start getting deeper into it.