Steering just does not feel right all of a sudden

[D_C]

I've had my 2001 hardtop for 2 years now and I've always been content with the handling, happy to chuck it round a roundabout at 50 with no concerns.
First, on full right lock there is a thump/clunk (when turning in the drive) this has been there since I got it and not my main concern.
The other day I leisurely nipped to the local shops taking it nice and easy, turned into a right hand junction that I use most days and all of a sudden felt like it turned in much sharper than it should have done and took me across the wrong side of the road, scared the  sshit shit sshit  out of me.
Calmed down, carried on, kept thinking still feels very weird but hmm maybe I hit a bump/took it a bit fast/dreamt it/being paranoid.
Got the the next right hand junction and it turned in scary sharp again. Took it super careful to the shops and back.
Next day, made sure pressures were on point, took it to have 4 wheel alignment, felt marginally better but I wasn't at all convinced.
I carry on to work (there are a few miles of very very poor potholed/lumpy roads which i though had maybe finally took its toll), steering feels very light and floaty and I'm taking my regular roundabouts at 25 with a feeling like the front ends just going to loose traction (although it does not seem to if I give it a bit of poke).
Have lost all confidence in the handling and took it to the local garage.
I got receipts for all sorts of work on the car since 17k 2005 and I have also had a number of jobs done in the last 2 years, inc rack replacement (as it spat all its oil out), column UJ (as there was a bit of play, came back tighter but with a clunk when wobbling the steering wheel), hub assembly (wheel bearing), shock absorber due to leak found at MOT.
I was expecting garage to come back and say maybe, drop links, tie rod ends, bushings.. something suspension relation on the near side.
Garage came back saying there was play in the column. Could be column bushings but wouldn't repair the issue as they didn't know if that was the real problem and didn't want to be spending time burning a hole in my pocket chasing the problem.
Booked Friday off work to get some time to get under it and take a look myself as garage didn't get any further than the play in the steering wheel (which does not feel major or any worse to me than it did before or when it passed MOT last year).

So here I am..  Curious what's gone wrong, whats the most likely culprit, wondering if there is anyone reasonably local (J29 M1) that knows what they are doing with the Roadster.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated as seeing the 2 shrinking away in the rear view mirror as I drive off in the wives focus is killing me.

[Essex2Visuvesi]

My roadster was like that when I got it
Lower steering Universal joint was borked

Quick test
get glamorous assistant (any assistant will do if Ms McGee is not available) to hold thesteering shaft where it enters the steering rack (if you have the frunk plastics you will need to remove them) then try to turn the steering wheel.... I'll guess theres a little play in either the upper or lower UJ

[JoeCool]

You say you've had the steering UJ Replaced, there are 2 of them. I'd want to double check the lower UJ as that is certainly a cause of dodgy steering feel. Just take out the front boot plastic surround and have a look at it: Here's a video of a badly gone one:

[youtube:1zrq2tt8]oMRLynFf_Nw[/youtube:1zrq2tt8]

You seem to be approaching things sensibly though. You're just into the painful trouble shooting exercise of finding suspension problems.

My main go-tos for inconsistent handling like this would be : Failed Damper, Rotted through rear subframe cross member (Take the nappy off and have a good look partcularly on the front face of it), and then all the other niggly bits like failed rear suspension bushings, drop links, etc etc.

[D_C]

Thanks Guys for your info, I didn't mention before but I also got the rear subframe replaced when I bought the car as part of the deal as I had noticed it had rotten through a little.  I'll be having a dig around tomorrow around all the column etc.

Let you know what I find.

[shnazzle]

Well done getting the subframe replaced as part of the deal! THat'll save you a fair penny down the line and eliminates a major weakness of the 2.

The symptoms you describe are rather similar to what I and my wife experienced when one of my springs snapped. It seems fine to drive around, until it's not.
Worth a peekaroo

[beavisrules]

only got 1 shock replaced?

you still have play in steering?, could have been a duff rack fitted or the lower uj.
as above , re the lower steering joint , if its got broken bearing now, they sometimes don't self center.
also tyre age? , got some diesel on them maybe?

[Liberty mkiii]

I had terrible random twiches in mine when I first got it only to find several bolts loose on the suspension.  Easy to check and should be confirmed to eliminate all possibilities.  I dont trust these allignment shops...

01' MR2 K20 swap, crazy mods to come