Steering rack leak and noisy pump...safe to drive?

[yeti 0]

Not the C but my b5 passat tdi

 

I was driving home tonight and heard a strange noise as i pulled away froma set of traffic lights, 2 roundabouts on and it was making strange 'wizzy' noisey as i turned left and right and didnt feel as smooth when turned.

 

I stopped to find alot of powersteering fluid all over my nearside wheel, in the wheel arch, on the rear wheel and down the side of the car from where the fluids been flung out and the air's pushed it down the side.

 

hmm well the RAC man has just come out and was almost as confused as i was as i checked all i could really see but he has managed after quite a while poking around to diagnose the problem as a knackered seal at the ns end of the steering rack and now a knackered pump as well...

 

anyone know how easy they are to change as it seems to be a struggle seeing the bloody thing! - also how much wallet damage i'm looking at (just fitted a new alternator, drive belt, tensioner, waterpump etc and 3-4 weeks before 2 lower suspension arms... not cheap motoring! )

 

also anyone know if it'll be dangerous to drive like this? - if the pump and rack are knackered all ready, in theory the power steering may stop and it become heavy but surely i'll still be able to turn it till saturday?