Front suspension question

[keppler]

Lately Ive been getting some weird feedback from my front suspension when on rough roads. Ive checked the drop links and there's no movement from them whatsoever. Ive found that the bushes on both whisbone's are fairly worn so Im going to change those. However something is bugging me. When I grab the track rod ends and try to turn them from side to side they move quite easily. My question is should they move so easily like this (as in perpendicular to the direction of the track rod itself) Or should they be stiff and unable to move in any direction?
Any help is much appreciated lads cheers

[lozz]

Thats normal mate id say,
if you grab the wheel one hand at 9oclock other 3oclock and waddle it, see if theres any play, if so it wouid be afaulty track rod end,
thats how icheck them anyway, works for me,

[jonsowman]

Thats normal mate id say,
if you grab the wheel one hand at 9oclock other 3oclock and waddle it, see if theres any play, if so it wouid be afaulty track rod end,
thats how icheck them anyway, works for me,

With the wheel jacked up off the ground I assume?

[lozz]

Thats normal mate id say,
if you grab the wheel one hand at 9oclock other 3oclock and waddle it, see if theres any play, if so it wouid be afaulty track rod end,
thats how icheck them anyway, works for me,

With the wheel jacked up off the ground I assume?

no mate with the wheel on the ground,
if the cars raised you carnt check them properly as the wheel wouid just move inwards if you know what imean,
try it and see

for checking wheel bearings, best raise the wheel, one hand 12oclock other 6oclock,

[jonsowman]

Oh interesting. I should probably check mine, thanks

Is it the same procedure for checking droplinks on the rear?

[lozz]

Tbh, everyone will have diffent opinions,
but for droplinks ialways check them with the weight of the car on them, wheels on,
just grab the link if theres play it gets binned took me a while to work that one out,
as you can check them with the wheel off and theres no play,

You will know if the top links are failing, or atleast idid, car starts to sway, felt like an old cortina with the void bushes gone,
its pretty scarey when they fish out on you, something ididnt expect a 406 doing anyway

[keppler]

Thats normal mate id say,
if you grab the wheel one hand at 9oclock other 3oclock and waddle it, see if theres any play, if so it wouid be afaulty track rod end,
thats how icheck them anyway, works for me,

Cheers lozz i'll get right on it as soon as the weather improves over here in ireland. Ive also never checked the drop links with the wheel on the ground. there dead tight when the car is jacked up but ill check them your way as soon as I get a chance. as part of the problems with the front end is a little bit of side slip especially when the wheel is turned to the right (as in, if I was making a right hand turn on a rough road). Im a bit worried that this problem is eventually going to be narrowed down to the suspension top mount and bearing