in his book "right at the mountain" or something like that he describes a ball in the joint jamming and he narrowly avoided going over a cliff when the steering froze! I'd suspect he seldom if ever lubed it. If you can get parts I'd fix it myself though for $160 you're done, just bolt it up.
re: the mention of the book, that would be the box at the end of the steering wheel, not what you're dealing with behind the grill. The one behind the grill is hard to fill and as the seals wear gets to be a pain. I've filled my other box with dozer track lube but eventually it's gotta get fixed. see if you can get a core charge (credit) on your existing one and get new. if they give you $25 or something for the old one they send off for rebuilding you're not out so much.