Grrrrrr.....

My sister did a good one to her A4. (03 / 3.0)
Even better the car is 90 miles away at her friends house.
Since phone diagnostics are nearly impossible, I got her to send some photos off of her cell. The power steering pump is no longer a single unit.

I packed up my tools and went on a road trip, expecting to call the tow truck. I was able to remove the pump in short order without putting the car on a lift.

(The most difficult part was getting the pulley off. The shaft would not seat back in the housing, and there was not enough clearance to wigggle the whole thing out. Was able to use the loose serpentine belt to steady it enough to crack the 3 pulley hex bolts.)

Here is the deal, can metal fragments from the rear needle bearings or shattered front ball bearings find their way into the PS fluid, rack etc?
I have a bad feeling the answer is obvious.

There was not fluid sprayed all around, the resivoir is empty. No chunky stuff there.
I plan to pick up the pump and fluid tomorrow and go back install it this weekend or sooner.
Hoping to flush the system out here.

She did drive the car after it cratered, I am not sure how far exactly.
It still cranks strong, so she did not drive it until the battery drained.
It had to have been making a god awful noise before failure, but she is the when do I need to change the air in my tires type.
But one mile or one block makes no difference sometimes.

Hope not too many of you have seen this, but any help appreciated.
Cheers, William