what is "trash" in the steering rack?

[clydesdale]

I am having a weird steering issue that is crazy intermittent. In the morning the steering is perfect and as the car warms up, the steering gets a little stiffer and it does not want to recover from turns properly. I can then get in the car after a stop and it will steer fine. The fluid was black, I flushed it and it did seem better. It is acting up again and I think I am going to flush again and maybe use brake clean to clean the PS filter, with it out of the car of course. Someone mentioned there could be "trash" in the rack. Suggestions or thoughts?

[jlevie]

This would make me suspect a worn pump or binding in the tie rods, ball joints, or upper strut bearings.

[clydesdale]

What is killing me is that I just got back from a drive and the car did not present one symptom, it steered perfect. It is intermittent and often after the car has been driven a a while.