2. Visually inspect the ball joint dust boots and rack and pinion steering gear boots for cracks, wear, and aging. Any wear on these boots will result in loss of lubricant and entry of water and dirt, which will cause rapid wear of the ball joints or steering gear.
3. Check the power steering hoses for wear or deterioration, and the pipes and hose connections for leaks. Also check the steering gear boots for signs of pressurized fluid leakage, which indicates damaged steering seals.
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4. Jack up the car, grab the wheel with your hands at 12 and 6 o'clock and try to rock it in a vertical plane. A very small amount of play in the wheel is acceptable, but if the play is large enough, further testing is needed to determine the source.
5. Continue pumping the wheel while the assistant applies the foot brake. If the play is eliminated or significantly reduced, the hub bearings are likely damaged. If the play is still significant with the brake applied, there is wear in the suspension joints and mounts.
6. Now take the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions and try to rock it horizontally. The presence of play in the horizontal plane can be caused by wear in the hub bearings or the ball joints of the steering rod. If the inner or outer ball joint is worn, the play will be obvious.
7. Using a large screwdriver as a lever, check for wear in the suspension mount bushings between the suspension component and the point of attachment. Some movement should be visible since the mount bushings are made of rubber, but excessive wear should be evident. Also check the condition of any visible portions of the rubber bushings for cracks, wear, and deformation.