so much heat has been applied to replace the ball joint is has softened the bar. i wouldnt min betting that the steering is getting slowly worse and the bar could bend a whole lot more. I would there fore take it back to the garage that carried out the work and state that in using so much heat they have weakened the bar and made the vehicle now unsafe.
Try threatening with trading standards. any steering component that is not as should be is dangerous, none of the steering arms should be bent, and even if they claim the bar was bent before they should not have changed an end on it and let you drive away like that
Hi Top Cat, I do think the ball joint end piece has definiately bent since it was fitted, I'm sure it was straight when they first put it on (incidentally it was changed because the other one was loose and worn, but I don't remember the old end piece being bent like this one now is). As for the drag link rod I didn't notice if it was bent or not, but it probably was. I don't know whether to go back to the same garage or take it to a Land Rover specialist instead, there are a couple nearby. I've only had the Disco since October and I'm getting so fed up with its problems already that I'm considering getting another Hilux Surf instead, as they seem more robust and have better acceleration speed!!