How screwed is my coworker's power steering pump?

[scotts90ranger]

He's got a '99 4x2 Ranger with a 2.5L. The front bearing is going out, he had a horrible belt squeak yesterday that he thought was the power steering pump so he ordered that and hoses but asked for a second opinion and it turned out the bearing in the idler next to the pump were toast. So he decided to return the pump and hoses and get the $13 idler which helped for the most part. He changed it at lunch and called me over for an opinion on the PS pump, the pulley not only moves in and out like normal but there's also some side to side play... somehow the front shaft seal isn't leaking? I'm not sure how to quantify the shaft play, the pulley rotates in the wrong direction a couple degrees? IE pulling the shaft out to get that play out if you rock the pulley... He's always tight on $$ so I inadvertently told him it would probably be ok for a couple months... (he doesn't drive all that much)

Next dumb question, it looks like the normal Ford pump I'm oh so used to seeing, I know there's a couple different thread sizes, I have a late '80's pump floating around, what was the change year range? and I think I have a pump from a '97 F250...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You sure its the pump shaft and not the pulley thats loose?

It should be leaking id think unless...its empty.

Is the power steering still working?

I dont know the differences in pumps but i doubt either of the older pumps would work. The 97 would pry be a better shot.