This doesn't directly apply to a third gen, but I've been a member of the board for awhile and this seems to be the best place to go for any car help, and the car is the predecessor to the thirdgen so its not completely unrelated.

I have '74 firebird formula with the lovely Pontiac 400 v8. ITs got a conventional steering system, which I am very unfamiliar with, and last night while I was driving home I noticed my wheel was shaky. It felt almost as though it was driving in segments as a bit of wheel turn would be solid, then turning the wheel further would make the wheel feel lose, then it would get solid again. At first I thought a wheel was falling off my car, but they are very securely bolted on. IT feels very much like a power steering issue. In fact, if I have the car parked at a stop, and I turn the wheel all the way to the lock, the wheel jerks in my hand and the car stalls unless I rev the engine while doing it. I'm not sure whether I should start at the power steering pump with this one, or if I'm completely wrong and its a wheel bearing or what. Anybody have any advice?

Thank you for reading this,
-- Henry

 

I'm not sure what 'conventional steering' is refering to, but the steering system is very similiar to a third-gen and lots of other GM stuff. Make sure your powersteering belt is tight and it's full of fluid. What color is the fluid? Does it stink? You might try changing the PS fluid before anything else.