Okay so i have a 1999 tracker. it has a 1.6l with a 5 speed. i have an issue with the power steering. it is super heavy. i just rebuilt the pump with new seals. sometimes i get the power steering back for a second or two. the steering is also notchy. when i turn the steering wheel about 45 degrees, it hits a tight spot and then like lets go and gets easier as i keep turning the wheel. could it be the rack or the steering shaft?

is your tracker lifted with a body lift? if so and you dont have steering exstension that could be your problem otherwise the rack and pinion unit is more than likely shot

no, i dont have any lift, its all stock

Remove the lower steering column shaft (release the pinch bolts and slip the couplings on the splines - make sure the steering is pointing "straight ahead" and don't rotate the steering wheel with the shaft out) and check for tightness in the UJs - what you're describing sounds like the lower UJ binding.  The joints are Toyo ST1640

how do i check them?

I agree with fordem's diagnosis.  I have driven a couple Trackers that you could feel the tiny u-joints in the steering shaft binding during turning.  Why do these little buggers go bad when others seem to last forever?  I suppose it might be a truck that sit for extended period of time?  That's only a guess.  At least fordem provided a replacement part number source. 

Most likely if you had taken your current problem to a local Chevrolet dealer (back in the day when they still sold them), their diagnosis would have been a LOT more expensive, and probably not cured the actual u-joint issue.  They wouldn't even have a part number for those tiny u-joints on their books.  Their cure would MOST likely have been replacing the whole rack and pinion unit, because they wouldn't know what the real problem was... and then replacing your entire steering shaft assembly.  All very expensive.  They don't deal in Trackers anymore and offer very few factory repair parts for them now.

I agree with fordem's diagnosis.  I have driven a couple Trackers that you could feel the tiny u-joints in the steering shaft binding during turning.  Why do these little buggers go bad when others seem to last forever?  I suppose it might be a truck that sit for extended period of time?  That's only a guess.  At least fordem provided a replacement part number source.

I think they are exposed to water - I'm told it's usually the lower one that gives trouble.

That would make sense.

Does anyone know where I can buy those little u-joints?

Try a local parts store like NAPA or another large chain store.  Tell them you want the Toyo ST 1640 u-joint which has  16 mm diameter cups, and a 40 mm cross measurement (1640).  If they don't have the SAME parts number, they can probably cross reference the part number for a u-joint that would work.  I think it was Nissan parts departments that sells these through their dealerships.

awesome, ill see if i can find some. thank you

i just checked napa and they dont actually have one quite that small

Well then that's one source down, try or call someone/somewhere else.  Check with a Nissan dealership.  Talk to a parts department guy.  Or... go to a local pick-n-pull and yank one off another truck. 

Yep, try a local junkyard or give Trail Tough a call.

Are you sure that the one I pull of another car won't be bad like mine? I guess I could just try it if it's cheap. Thanks