2001KR4xx4

I have a 2001 SuperCrew King Ranch with 137,xxx miles on it.
I have not used my 4x4 in a couple of months and decided to test it out the other day to see how things were running.
Upon doing so, everything activates normally when shifting into and out of 2H, 4H and 4L, but I get this terrible grinding/super stiff feeling through my steering wheel when I am turning. I do not make sharp turns when in 4x4, I always swing wide and multi-point turn when I need to make sharp turns so I am not putting extra wear on the gears upfront, but even when I am barely turning left or right, everything seems to be just insanely stiff and like its working overtime to turn my wheels, even in grass or mud. I am fairly sure this is not normal and my question is:
1.Do I need to lubricate the front end (if even possible and if so, how does anybody know how)
2. Could it have something to do with my power steering and just be noticeable when I am in 4x4?

Any other ideas or thoughts are much appreciated!!

Thank you in advance!!!

allinon72

Well you will get some binding if the front wheels are not allowed to slip. It sounds like you might have a CV that is binding up and failing.

charliedyal

^^my thoughts exactly^^

2001KR4xx4

What is the best way to go about checking to see if my CV-shaft is binding up? All my boots on the cv's are intact and not cracked at all if that's relevant.

charliedyal

Jack the front end up and rotate the tire by hand during a full lock left/right. If it's binding you should feel it. And just because the boot isn't torn doesn't mean it's not bad. But a torn boot will hasten joint failure.

Carcrazygts2

Or he was on pavement. The CV"s start to bind at 40 degrees of steering wheel rotation.