.... that maybe some gift-horses should be dentally examind".

I have just got back from taking "GWEN" the mini for an MOT.
It did not go well. One of the things I had noticed on day 1 was confirmed.
The steering is knackered. Symptom is that when you are not moving and you try to turn the steering wheel you can get a few clunks & bangs out of it as the steering wheel turns but the wheels do not alter their steering angle.
Which means either the splines on the column are shot, or the teeth on the rack are shot, or both.

It's raining and I don't fancy pulling things apart in the rain.