what are the signs of one going bad???? loose steering???

 

it would be bad to if the amount of crap that ends up in the fluid starts eating away at the hydrolic booster as well... makes for an even stronger argument to maintain it...

 

your steering will progressivly get sloppier & sloppier... IMO, if you flush the system it will help the steering box last longer since you wont have any gunk that is in the fluid circulating thru the pump.

 

It can also blow the lower seal around the pitman arm (like one of mine did) and you will loose all of your PS fluid in about 30-45 seconds. I did not loose the brakes when this happened, but I have an 01. I think the later models are different.