It hadn't been in a bump as i know the previous owner through work quite well, it was more uncared for than anything, it hadnt been serviced in 3 years/35000 miles when i got her and would barely accelerate below 2000 revs because the spark plugs had disentegrated.

Ive took it to a few places this morning and checked the lower arm bushes and 2 out of 3 places i took it have said its the steering rack which has been said above is a common fault, and these 2 garages both said its the bias valve in the steering rack?

When i mentioned it also clunks about more when the car is cold and eases off once its warm, they said that would sound even more so of the bias valve as once the steering fluid warms up it lubricates the valve more?

So its looking like a new rack at the minute

The shocks where only burst through old age, when i took off the rubber dust covers they had rusted around where the piston goes through and the seal had given way and released all the fluid.