Why would your steering make noise if it wasn’t the power steering pump? Well, it might be your ball joints. They’re less expensive than a whole steering rack, and it’s good to check them occasionally anyhow.
;)
I offer no real advice, because I don’t entirely know what I’m doing. But I am ambitious, so I’ll attempt to use a hydraulic press to fit the ball joints instead of the special kit. Once that goes well, I’ll lash the whole thing to a fence post and use that for leverage.