Disco 2 clunking steering rods!

not sure if i'm overthinking/worrying about this but after a reasonable off-road day I've developed a clunk on steering - usually full articulation but things dont feel as stable as they used to (and metalic tinkling noise when going over bumps but thats something else to chase down!)

I've put new tyres all round which are probably putting more strain on things (265/75/R16 Insa's) as well as longer springs (+2"), shock turrets and cones but i'm sure everything is tightened up properly in that area.

I've had a play with the steering rod and drag link this morning and i can rotate them (front to back) by hand with a little bit of effort - should there normally be that much movement by hand?
There seems to be a metal-on-metal clunk when I do that. Both bars are HD versions, less than 2 years old (sub 5k miles) but the rubber housing seems badly split already - I think britpart IIRC

I'm at the point of replacing them for something that isn't britpart - Terrafirma or Gwyn Lewis seem the likely options - does anyone have any recommendations on either or other suggestions for these?

Panhard rod is Terrafirma and that seems "ok" so hoping that the new bars will cure things and it doesn't end up being steering box related - although I'm not really sure how to diagnose that??

thanks!
S

If you have the money, go with the beefier Gwyn Lewis rods. My TF rods started to discolour after 4 months of normal street driving.
Also the nuts on the my TF track rod ends had cracked and split making a clunking noise so check there also.

JUKE179r said:

If you have the money, go with the beefier Gwyn Lewis rods. My TF rods started to discolour after 4 months of normal street driving.
Also the nuts on the my TF track rod ends had cracked and split making a clunking noise so check there also.

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Thanks @JUKE179r - I was heading towards those so good to get a second opinion