Yeah, Im in the same situation. I took the ps belt off and have been using
the van without ps for about 8 months( stole this idea off the list without
giving proper credit to the postee). I do have bigger bicepts(sp)but I
still cant sjpell it.Actually this is not bad driving.Only parking.  The
vanagon ps does not compare with other vehicles'ps when the engine dies.It
actually,practically, can be used this way. As for replacement, I gotta
wait still.Maybe forever.The rebuild kit is about $80, and is said to
require no special tools.However, isnt it a good idea to do the inner tie
rods at the same time($35 eachx2, and new boots $25, and the little flex
plates(3 of them @ $15 each, and 4 mounting grommets $6 each X4), and por-
15 to make it look cool? My penny jar will still have to help out here, but
that $275 rack w/innerand outter tie rod ends and boots, and mounting
grommets looks real good at BD.Maybe Bd will discount this for me for this
advertisment-say $100-$200.How long will a ps steering rack last anyway?
Anybody got any testimonies  for endurance out there? Did you flush the
fluid at anytime during it's life?