how to tell if steering rack is bad?

[vu]

well, i noticed for about a month now that my steering is very loose. i changed the passenger side cv boots recently since they were torn and i installed the whiteline front sway bar a few weeks ago. when i was installing it, i noticed that the driver side tie rod boot was slowly leaking fluid. it didnt look torn but it obviously was. its a mess on that side, dried pwr steering fluid i assume, so it been leaking for a while. the passenger side is fine. so does it sound like i would have to change the whole rack or just that boot? is there a way i can check?
thanks,

97 camry v6 le
tokico shocks
eibach springs
whiteline f&r
trd strut bar

[ArmyofOne]

does your steering wheel come back to center after a turn? if not, does the direction it stays pointed in depend on the last direction the wheel was turned?

[fredk]

if there is ps oil in the accordian boot, the endseal on the rack is history and you need a new r-p do this also, jack up 1 front wheel at a time and grab it a 3 and 9;00 positions and see if ya got play in the tierods, you probably should go ahead and get new outers when you get the rack, then grab the wheel at 12 and 6;00 positions and see if ya got any play in the balljoint and wheelbearing, put a jackstand under the car too

[vu]

thanks for the replies, i guess ill check out the local junk yard this week and replace the whole thing. anything to look out for? the haynes manual makes it sound easier than it probably is and is as vague as usual.
thanks

[fredk]

no junkyard, napa

[toysarefun]

Shop around for a rack/pinion, prices vary, rebuilts are typically built better than OEM. Since the part is about $200 or less, I purchased it myself to avoid a markup from the shop. Mine was leaking in the same place as yours.

[fredk]

napa had mine for my 88 it was about 150;00