Play in wheels.

[bungle]

I've just jacked the front end of my car up to change the gaitors on the steering rack and when giving the wheels a rock in the 3- 6 position I can move the whole rack. Is this normal. I don't know if it would make any difference but the battery is disconnected as I've been doing some welding.

[Confused]

Is it actually the whole rack that's moving, or just the wheel, or bits between the wheel and the rack?

Things I would be looking at first are:

1) Track rod ends
2) Inner rack ends
3) Ball joints in lower suspension arms

[bungle]

Yeah it's the rack. Think it'd only stopping because the steering looks on. Both front wheels are off the floor BTW.

[Confused]

So, to clarify, the whole actual rack casing is moving?

[bungle]

Yeah you can turn the wheels side to side with your hands as though you were turning the steering wheel. And you can see the steering wheel move also.

[TAR]

its perfectly normal for you to be able to move the steering rack and steering wheel with both front wheels off the ground.

To check for play you should do the following:
With only 1 front wheel off the ground, hold wheel at 12 and 6 (i.e top and bottom) then wobble. If you get any movement, it can be wheel bearing, lower arm or possibly top suspension arm.
With only 1 front wheel off the ground, hold the wheel at 9 and 3 (i.e. left and right) then wobble. If you get any movement, it can be track rod ends, inner rack arms or wheel bearing.
For a wheel bearing, you will get play in both positions.

[bungle]

Cheers good to know. I thought a little bit of movement was normal with only one wheel of the floor? Litteraly just a couple of mm and a slight click.