Actually power assist does reduce the load on the u-joint, as the assist occurs below the u-joint and the steering wheel is above.

Angus
 

Angus Gordon
Bainbridge Island WA

On Jun 27, 2010, at 4:52 PM, BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> On Jun 27, 2010, at 3:49 PM, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
> wrote:
> 
>> Folks:  After like 5 years of driving my PS equipped Vanagon(90 GL)
>> without power steering, the u joint was starting to complain by
>> clunking around.  No doubt more stress on it as it took more effort
>> to turn the wheel all those years.
> 
> 
> It's doubtful that you can exert more power than the powerassist
> system on the u-joint. More likely, the tendency to 'muscle' the wheel
> with jerking movements as opposed to the smoother turns of the
> assisted rack is the culprit.
> 
> 
> BenT