is it at all like this? even ever so slighty?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjdVu1Ff-Q

what colour is your pas fluid? it should be cherry red.

my focus rack is like the link above although nowhere near as bad. its the rack thats worn/seal buggered. i could only feel mine in car parks when i got it and a fluid change made it loads better but 2 years down the line i can now feel it again but also on the road so i need a new rack.

your best bet is to replace the fluid first and see if that helps.