Glad you got it worked out - even if it is temporary. I've 2 rack failures (240) and both times the failure was preceded by leaking (past seals, out the driver's side inner tie boot). And both times the failure was catastrophic - once it was all I could do to get it to turn left (scary while in motion) and the other time I got a wicked oscillation in the wheel when I took a right turn at speed. I think if the rack fails, you won't have any doubts about it.

I doubt seriously if this had anything to do with the new tie ends/ball joints. While those new joints may be relatively stiff to move by hand, once on the car, the forces they see will cause even brand new joints to move with virtually no discernible resistance.

Leaks/noise are often the tell-tale for a pump that's on it's way out.
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82 242 5.0L; '10 Cayman S; '15 Honda Fit