generally I don't think rack&pinion steering has any play in it, if it does it's probably stuffed. There might be a little nut at the end of the steering shaft, I don't know what that nut does though. When the rack had play in our car the tie ends were shot & needed to be replaced.
I'd say brake hoses is brake hoses as long as the thread/nut is the same size and they're not too long or short, go for it.