Change track rod and breaks before alignment?

[Smack123]

Vauxhall Astra CDTI ecotec, 1.6cc, 2017, 90'000 mileage mostly rural/town roads and some motorways.

I took my car to a garage for MOT and full Service. It passed MOT fine but had a few issues they wanted to repair immediately.

- Wheel alignment and front L tyre replacement (This definitely needs doing).
- All Break pads & discs ("visual check").
- Inner & outer track rod L side ("visual check").

After they tried to get me to agree to £1200 just on breaks £800 on a single track rod I got the feeling they were trying to rip me off and took the car back without work. I went to change the breaks myself but stopped when I measured 8-9mm on front breaks and 5-6mm on rear breaks, they still have half a cm of wear indicator on them. The L wheel has a small amount of play maybe ~5mm when pushing the tyre back and forth, I wouldn't say it feels loose, grabbing the track rod itself I can feel no play in it. The steering wheel doesn't shake or rattle while driving, and there's no noise while turning. It also seems a bit early to expect to change track rods at 90K miles. The only symptom is the front L wheel being out of alignment.

- I have also noticed a dull creaking noise (like stepping on old floor boards) when the car is misaligned height wise. If I were to drive straight over a speed bump there is no noise, but if I were to mount the curb or speed bump with only either one side of the car, it creaks while changing height. I gave the ball joints a quick spray because they've never been lubricated, but the creaking is still there afterwards.

If I need any work doing, I've got a month off work so now's the time to do it really.

So what I'm asking, ideas to find out the source of the creaking, and whether I should change the track rods on both sides (normally changed in pairs) and breaks, before taking it in for alignment, or leave it for another year and only do the alignment this week?

 

[Mottie]

Sort out the cause of the play and then get the tyre replaced and the alignment checked and adjusted. You need someone to gently rock the steering wheel back and forth while you hold your hands on the joint to feel if it’s worn. Check that it’s not the inner joint where the play is. Spraying the joints will do nothing as nothing will get inside them.

 

[Burnerman]

I don't quite get this one.....you have a few MOT advisories it seems. (Advisories are just that - advisories).
Brake visual check........there seems to be plenty of material left on the pads, but what condition are the discs in? £1200 seems like I'm in the wrong job, likewise £800 for a track rod end?
The garage may have spotted uneven tyre wear, hence the recommendation for an alignment check.
For the creak, lubricate the anti roll bar bushes with washing up liquid - and any other rubber bushes that you can see. It could be a spring rotating in its top strut bearing as well, but that's unlikely. The bottom wishbone bushes get a hard time too.
5mm play? This could be a track rod end (or the track rod joint within the rack), a wheel bearing or bottom suspension joint. That's too much but you've just got the MOT?
I don't change both track rod ends (or springs) as a matter of course.
John

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

It's a wind-up or perhaps it was Kwikfit or the like.

 

[Burnerman]

Who was the guy who was always winding us up.......Vauxhall driver wasn't he?
John

 

[carmanmemoranda]

5 mm play and can't find it.?