Update. Had the car on a hoist at a local suspension place.

Steering has a lot of play in it, can feel the whole thing shimmying back and forth when the wheel is turned. Technician said this is the chronic bump steer problem. Question is, how is such a thing fixed - they weren't sure themselves.

Also found my left FI HFC had cracked all around the lower weld on the body. Awesome day

They weren't sure where the play was? That doesn't sound like a very competent shop. Need to inspect all bushings and wheel bearing up front and just for inner/outer tie rod play while someone steers left and right. Sometimes it shows more with turnplates locked other times with them unlocked.

If your talking about bumpsteer that is usually and effect of being really low and altering the steering geometry, easiest way to fix that is to raise back up the car. Other way is to get outer tie rods with lower joint like spl makes.

Car runs stock suspension all the way around. It has never been lowered

Hrm, second set of failed FI HFC's I've heard of. I definitely thought they should have included a tab for mounting to the OEM cat to tranny brace.

If your rack isn't tight (hey keep it clean!) there's definitely something amiss.

Further chats with them and they think the rack bushings are on their way out. Find that at bit hard to believe with 38k kms (~23k) miles on it. Incidentally I can't seem to find anywhere that sells replacement bushings for the 370's steering rack locally.

Yeah the FI cats are a bit of a worry. They seemed solid. Had them on for almost 3 years now. I checked the warranty, apparently void if you don't use an FI catback?