2006 F150 4.2 4x2 100K miles

I've noticed lately that when I turn my steering wheel sharp around a turn that it will bind and not want to return to center. It's like I have to force it back over that binding spot. Can be a bit scary! It doesn't do it all the time, and I can't seem to reliably replicate it. I can hear a noise sometimes too when turning the wheel, kind of like a creaking.
Do you think this is the u joints on the steering shaft going bad?

 

Thats a common thing in salt country. There is after market for that steering ujoint, don't know how good it is . I'm in florida so I oil mine now and then . I would inspect both sides of my ball joints ,steering links , tie rod ends ,sway bar etc . I rebuilt all mine . Jack it up and move it around look for worn bushings etc ,after 100k I replaced a lot of stuff there. You can borrow the tools from auto zone. I used moog parts with grease fittings . Some shops will sell you a moog job but put cheap stuff in .
Just mark everything measure and put it back close to same . After its all done you may want a alignment job . The whole job is not that hard . Shops will charge a lot .

 

The steering u-joint may loosen up if you spray it liberally with oil. I wound up with a Dorman lower shaft on my '04. I had to get an alignment after it was installed since it moved the steering wheel off center.