Does this look right?

Quick question if someone could help please, should the track rod on the steering drop arm look all squashed like this?



How do you tell if a track rod is knackered?

hold rod near joint and get someone to wobble steering wheel if its got play you will feel it ,or use lever to try and move it ,its is twisted in tube a little ,obviously not fitted square when joint was changed or is loose in tube ,former more likely ,if you slacken clamp it can be twisted right ,if seized hit rod using 2 hammers (one as anvil) all around area that thread of joint sits in down enough threads will become free spray with penertrating fluid first

It will do that naturally, just grab the steering bar and rotate it slightly and the compression will be gone