funnily enough I will have a spare steering rack available early next week.
Suggest that you phone this freephone number 0800 027 4444 it is McConechy's a scottish tyre fitting company who use a new type of computer controlled alignment system - tell them you are in bristol and is there a company in your area that uses the same system they should then hopefully pass you onto someone who will be able to tell you . Get a free check up !
I really think Kwik Fit are useless now having been a regular customer for a while but I wont be going back again.
changing the steering rack is not a hard job just takes time.
To be honest bushes wearing out and wishbones giving up the ghost really dont happen overnight they gradually over a long period of time degrade.
If there was a catastrophic failure then it could only be I suggest.....
1 track rod end snapped/stripped but unlikely
2 massive and sudden failure of bushes - easy check just jack up car , axle stand it and waggle wheel in all directions would be mega obvious.
3 ball joint again as above will be obvious in waggle test!
4 steering rack jack up car on both sides and get a friend to move wheeels while you feel the steering wheel then hold wheels in straight forward position and hold them firm now waggle steering (this can be done on the road before jacking and single handed) this should suggest steering rack.
5 check power steering fluid levels. and check for leaks as well if it is low.
6 get a free check up in a local tyre fitters.
the above are in no particular order.
good luck and keep us all in the loop.
