2. Visually inspect the ball joint dust boot and rack and pinion boot for cracks, abrasions and ageing. Any wear on these boots will result in loss of lubricant and ingress of water and dirt, leading to rapid wear of the ball joints or steering gear.
3. Check the power steering gear hoses for chafing or aging, and pipes and hose connections for leaks. Also check the steering gear boot for signs of pressurized fluid leakage, which indicates damage to the steering seals.
4. Raise the car with a jack, take the wheel with your hands at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and try to shake it in a vertical plane. Very little wheel play is acceptable, but if the play is large enough, further testing is needed to establish the source.
5. Continue pumping the wheel while the assistant applies the foot brake. If the play is eliminated or significantly reduced, it is likely that the hub bearings are damaged. If the play is still significant with the brake applied, then there is wear in the joints and suspension mounts.
6. Now take the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock position and try to shake it in a horizontal plane. The presence of play in the horizontal plane can be caused by wear in the hub bearings or tie rod ball joints. If the inner or outer ball joint is worn, play will be evident.
7. Using a large screwdriver as a lever, check for wear in the suspension mount bushings between the suspension element and the application point. Some movement should be visible as the mount bushings are made of rubber, but excessive wear should be evident. Also check the condition of any visible parts of the rubber bushings for cracks, wear and deformation.