This problem arose the day after I did the following maintenance. Jacked car up with floor jack from the left side only - dropped back down and then the right side only to do some routine brake maintenance. I then decided to grease the fittings front and rear. My mechanic says I may have over filled the ball joint grease fittings and will correct itself over time. Is this a possibility? Also said that sand may have settled into the steering rack, requiring replacement of rack and pump.. Could the sand have gotten there by jacking the car up one side at a time?

Checked fluid level- ok. Belt is not slipping. Pump is not making any noise.

If I forcefully turn the wheel all the way left at idle. It will then be difficult to turn it back all the way to the right.

When driving, steering is normal.

Appreciate any advice members may have.

I doubt any sand could've made its way into the steering rack unless you did your maintenance on the beach or desert. Could try a back yard mechanic trick, jack it up on stands (securely on stands), have somebody in the car with it at idle and have them turn the wheel back and forth while you carefully look and listen up underneath the car, this could eliminate any possibilities and use process of elimination.
My power steering kinda locked up while I was pulling into a Walgreens, thank goodness nobody was in my way and I muscled it back into control, fluid was fine and only happened that once, I had no clue to what it was but it hasn't happened again.
The advice I gave is a dangerous suggestion, use common sense and safety conscious IF/WHEN you do this.
It really don't sound like a ball joint problem, advance forum members with more experience could concur on this problem, but I doubt it. It really sounds like a power steering problem.
When you jacked the car up to do the brake and ball joint maintenance, did you turn your wheels to the side that you was working on causing the pump to be under a straining load (sound of a power steering pump under stress when you are at a stop and turn your wheels all the way in one direction)?

I have resigned to the probability that
an internal seal in the rack has failed.
Next week with be 15yrs since I drove
this car new off the lot. Quite bummed
out that this happened. I think it's time
to say goodbye.

I wouldn't throw in the towl yet on the Bonneville lol.

Rack needs replacement, sub-frame bushings are shot and the struts are original.

One mechanic told me to try flushing the PS fluid 3x and then adding Lube Guard #20910. Sometimes you may get lucky and clear the blockage in the PS line/valve.

I'll try that and then throw the towel in...LOL

I had pretty much the same problem when I got my SSEi... hard turning left, could barely get through a drive-through haha. Just replaced the pump and bled the system, no more problems for the past 4 years. You could even just get one from a junkyard. May as well try before you get rid of the car.

_________________
- Rachael

Decided to replace the ps rack, ps pump and probably one pair of subframe bushings (behind each front wheel)

Good, I hope your problem is resolved. Please for the love of God do not get rid of that car! I just sold my 96 because I was moving and didnt have time to work on it... Been regretting it ever since and have been searching for a replacement.

_________________

2007 Grand Prix GT L32
Poly endlinks, swaybar bushings and dogbone bushings. Drop in high flow air filter. Its a start!

2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS (project BlackSheep) Bone stock for now, 5 spd and fun as hell! (Gf's Ride)
1996 Pontiac Bonneville SE Gone but not forgotten
1997 Dodge Ram Sport 4x4 5.9L The Beast!