Chrysler Repair: power steering: pump or steering gear at fault?, power steering pump, economical approach

Question
my power steering fails when exerted. it behaves similarly to when the belt slips. the belt is not slipping and it seems worse when its cold. last summer the reservoir(plastic) had developed a leak and fluids had gotten low a couple times and assuming some damage occurred before repairs were made. my question is: how do i determine if the pump is failing or the rack is bad?
thank you

Answer
Hi Charles,
You didn't tell me the year or model of your vehicle. In any case, I would suspect the pump is bad if the rack isn't leaking. You can test the pressure output of the pump with a gauge and a set of hoses, etc., but maybe just replacing the pump is the most economical approach. If you want info on the test or the replacement of the pump write me back and tell me what year and model of car you have.
Roland