Bad Power Steering Pump or Rack?

[4gfun]

My car has lost power steering with no warning. I was teaching my wife to drive stick when it happened.

(This is a GVR-4 with a 1g power steering rack completed by the previous owner along with 4ws deletion if this makes a difference).

I checked the fluid hot and it was just below the minimum fill line on the dipstick.
I added some fluid hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Sure enough that did not fix it.

About 2 weeks ago I was under the car and noticed that one of the power steering boots was soaked with fluid. (I am guessing that it is ripped).

I remember this happening to me about 8 years ago on my 1g dsm and it turned out to be the Pump. It died with no symptoms whatsoever.

I know it is easier to replace the pump, I just wanted to know what I might be getting into.

Any thoughts on which one it might be?

Thanks!

 

[TALONTRAX]

You can start it & let it idle, take off the p/s fluid reservoir cap & put your finger into the fluid & see if you can feel it moving/pumping. If it is circulating, the pump is good & chances are that the valving in the rack has failed . . . If there is no fluid movement, the pump is probably bad.