That's the spirit! image

Are your clamps the stock clamps? Over time they will bend at the mating ends and will only tighten down so far.

If the idle returns to normal when you push the entire rack down it may be exerting enough pressure to close all the gaps around the boots. Push down holding the castings only, not the linkage. If more than one boot is leaking around the seal and worse, more than one place WD40 might not change the idle that much. No sooner than you spray the first boot and go to the second the first has sucked all the WD40 through and probably leaking again.

Inspecting the needles with a magnifying glass or something like it should tell you right away if they are worn. They should have a smooth finish, and any vertical scratches or striations would mean both needles and nozzles are worn (time for full kits). Sometimes you'll see a ring stained around the upper end where the needle rests against the nozzle at idle, but if it polishes out it's probably just a stain and not etched into the needle.

I'd rather give someone a tool than a solution. Give them an answer and they'll always expect it. Teach them how to find the answers for themselves and they will spend a lifetime learning.
As for my mental state?
"Not User Friendly"