I use the stuff from 'auto recycling' yards as often as possible - but I wont compromise on safety items. The vehicle that you take a steering part from is there for a reason that does't always come from sudden stops - like against a large oak tree - sometimes that vehicle is just plain worn out with 150-200,000 miles on it - including the steering flex joints. When, IMHO, I equate the perceived savings between a shiny new one at $65 versus driving xxx miles to the yard , spending xx hours searching and pulling 'just the right piece'(MAYBE), then taking it then xxx miles back home, spending xx hours cleaning the rust and years and miles of crud off it, I have a problem. Where are the savings? Especially if it's damaged, not the 'right' one - and the yard wont take it back.
(You can fill in the x's with your number for miles and hours)