Dave, do you also have the impression that the steering feels “right” again? In the phase where the bush expands, you don't immediately notice the very slow deterioration. But after the spring can work freely again, I felt a much better steering performance with more feedback from the road.
Yes Heinz. The difference is small, but is also noticeable. The plunger was locked solid, and took "persuasion" to release, so it was allowing a tiny amount of vertical rack movement, which led to the tiny amount of play at the wheel. I guess that's the best indicator. So far my 2016 has zero play at the wheel, but obviously at some point will need attention.
The thing is that few owners have the experience to do this. I wonder how many dealers have done this job because until you raised it here I had never heard of this as an issue.
Sewin: I use my vice/drill "lathe" for all sorts of "refinishing". The irony is that my son in law has a real lathe in his shed, but it's just too far away for a quick job, unless it was vital. The alloy spacer which fits under my spare wheel T bar comes up a treat when drill-lathed with wetndry!
