There's a nylon follower under the adjuster nut on the rack and this can swell up jamming in the slot it runs in on the rack itself this can need modifying to free it off, also racks are definitely not all lubricated properly and this can be an issue in causing stiff steering.
I'm just on my way out but will look at your post in more detail when I'm back tomorrow but there seems something amiss with alignment somewhere so I would check the security of the crosshead and associated fittings including the steering rack position and security. asking has the cross head been bent? or is it loose or incorrectly positioned. Has there been accident damage and chassis deformation.
One great big fallacy is that you should be able to turn the rebound spring by hand...... not true and shortening these springs was part of the rutherford upgrades.
If you have standard suspension you won't be turning them by hand and if you can the hub unit is hanging up on the pillar.
Martin.
