The reason I asked the OEM component life expectancy question is; in 156,000+ miles I've only had to replace the alternator (97k) and the water pump (104k), and I'm wondering what else I'm likely to be up for soon.

I'm starting to hear a faint squeal that is reminiscent of a power steering pump squeal.
The fluid level was down a little, but not "low", so I topped it off (first time ever).
Fluid color is a translucent golden brown (not clear like the top off fluid).

Any thoughts / similar experiences?

 

before spending a lot of money on a new pump, try replacing the fluid using a walmart turkey baster. (engine off) suck it out and discard. put in new. run it around the block and turn back and forth, or jack up front and turn back and forth a couple of times. repeat several times until the fluid remains clean.

you can use either PS fluid or ATF+4, but use all one or the other. don't mix them (long term) as in top off one with the other. i think it'd be ok to mix them during a flush, but honestly, ATF+4 is pretty expensive and unlikely to provide any extra benefit over new PS.

 

Pretty sure ATF+4 creates no pressure or something when not moving. I put it in mine and it hums like crazy when at full lock while barely moving. I would just stick with PS fluid

 

I topped off with an MS5931-PS spec fluid...

It's a faint PS pump like squeal that varies with engine RPM... it does not seem to vary with steering load (yet).