Yes, that is the problem with loose/worn suspension components as they wear they take other things with them. Once you have play in the steering rack it is just going to get worse and if you have some other factor like your high speed shimmy when braking it is just going to accelerate it. How fast it wears is dependent upon all the different factors that come in to driving it. Typically though it is not something that goes bad overnight. I live/work in So. Cal and I just don't see a lot of worn out 850 steering racks. In fact I can't really recall ever doing a set of inner tie rods on one. Outers, link rods, stabilizer mount bushings, wheel bearings, spring plates, ball joints? I do that kind of stuff on a regular basis but the P/S racks and inner steering rods seem to hold up pretty well.

Mark