Just to add a little more options to this... I have been having slowly increasing amount of noise like a clunk when going over small potholes and rough surfaces on the drivers side (RH) and at relatively slow speeds. Been looking for a culprit for about 6 months... everyone who looked couldn't see anything including the guys at AKS. I have changed suspension and top mounts and it was still there. Checked all other related bushes, nothing. The calipers have all been checked and disks are pretty recent.
Finally after another visit to AKS for some other stuff they diagnosed a worn steering rack and there was some slight play on the end float but very small. All the potential culprits like ARB bushes, Sub frame, Ball joints etc. were still ok. The play is very small but you can tell by pulling and pushing hard on the tie rods. We are only talking mm's here.
So in my case its a recon steering rack, Gen3 with new wiring loom 
Cheers
Rip
How much do AKS charge for that? A worn rack will hit us all eventually! Symptoms are usually knocks over bumps and the car wanders easily in a straight line, needs regular correction.
I remember the GTI’s steering feeling tight as a drum in a straight line when I test drove one back in 2006. They definitely get vague with age, but people ignore racks unless they can see massive play, which is rarely the case. It’s always the tiniest bit of slack in the pinion/rack, which is amplified by the steering wheel diameter.
The UJ that connects the rack to the column is another favourite, but no one ever checks that.
