>Turing the wheel without the van actually rolling and full lock
encounters >put huge strains on the rack seals.

Years ago, my new 5 year old stepdaughter would love to hop in the van
(parked in the garage) and "pretend" she was driving, grabbing the
steering wheel and rocking back & forth...  Ouch!  A few months later my
seals were leaking and major groaning from the power steering (about 500
miles from home).  Not designed for such abuse I guess.

Rich 
'85 GL
San Diego