Crappy steering- fluid leak related?

[leakyfaucet]

My 91 Talon has had crappy steering ever since I've owned it. The steering wanders a bit, especially over bumpy roads. I took it to a shop and they said everything feels tight, no looseness whatsoever. They did, however, notice the power steering fluid was leaking from the rack.

Yep, my fluid level keeps going down, so I know that it's leaking. Could a leak left unattended cause this crappy steering? Does this mean I have to replace the rack or can I just replace a boot or something? Any wisdom anyone has on this subject is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[boosted_91_tsi]

What type of noises or feeling is associated with your steering problem?

 

[leakyfaucet]

It doesn't make any strange noises. The feeling is hard to describe with words. But if you go over bumps, the steering will sometimes jerk to one side or the other. There's also a bit of slop in the steering, maybe a centimeter or so at the steering wheel.