Steering Issue

[mojo_monkey]

I bought my car a year ago in July, and everything seemed fine then. But during the winter I noticed something in the steering felt funny. When turning the car left or right, it feels like there’s a lump in the steering. For example, it feels fine for about 4 inches of steering wheel movement, than I have to put more effort into turning the steering wheel, like rolling something uphill, than the steering jerks whatever direction I’m turning the wheel, after which things seem fine.

The odd thing is, this has started to go away now that summers starting back up. It somehow seems tied to outside temperature, meaning the hotter it gets, the less likely this is to happen. And also, this lump gets closer to center the faster I’m driving, at 60 mph it only takes about 2-3 inches of wheel movement before I feel it, but at 20 mph it takes about half a revolution for me to feel it. Anyone know what this might be?

1990 325is

[bad man working]

Two things that may be worth looking at:
1. Is the belt slipping in wet weather (this can be worse if the engine under shield is missing)
2. Is the fluid contaminated with water (I don’t know if it’s hydroscopic like brake fluid but it may be worth changing anyway)