Steering valve issues

[93 Krawler]

The last trip to Harlan I was going up a steep hill and the engine died due to lack of fuel. The fuel pickup is in the front of the cell. So I had to back down the hill while fighting to steer. By the time I got to the bottom, the steering kept letting loose at times, like slipping. Once I got back on flat ground so I could start it, it has spots when you turn the wheel it just free spins some and catches again. It works fine and then it will free spin a quarter turn and start turning again. Any ideas on what I did. Did I break something in the orbital, blow a seal...