The wife got in the Rs this morning and on this cold day the steering is locked tight until she goes back and forth a few times to loosen it....this was like it all last winter but is ok all through the summer...now the cold days are here again its going to start locking again....any ideas anyone,has this happened to anyone else, even my mechanic didnt no what it could be.

 

in the focus, with PAS

seems you may have a problem with the fluid, so i would advise changing that first, alternatively the pump could be on its way out?

 

might sound strange but check the gaiters on the rack as i remember years ago a work mate had this problem on his astra & it turned out there was water getting into it & on very cold days it was freezing (mainly over night) dont think it has been cold enough to freeze yet though ????