Freelander 2 HSE 2007 ~34'000 miles......has started to feel a slight knock when turning steering wheel one quarter turn or less in either direction and a knotch is felt through the steering wheel as well as low audio knock.

Land Rover main dealer says it's the suspension strut top mounts and replacement is £485

I had suspected steering rack ( novice alert ! )....which would have been nicely covered by my Land rover extended warranty but these struts are not.

Anybody else had this? My local non franchised Land Rover garage suspects this is expensive and does not sound like suspension struts and that it could be steering rack also.

How can both struts become simultaneously defective/worn at identical time when they are independent ( again novice alerts ! )

I would have thought if it is the top mounts then you would be able to hear the noise more clearly with the bonnet open and standing next to one. You may even be able to see some movement. Probably best to do it with the engine off, and the front wheels off the ground (though this will unload the suspension and may make the noise disappear!).
If I was replacing one top mount, I would certainly do both for safety's sake. I've never done them on a Land Rover, only an old Golf GTI which took literally a few minutes each side and the parts were about £20 as I recall, but £485 sounds a lot!

A steering rack has a little more play on partial turn left or right than on full lock or straight ahead.
Leave it that way and only if it'll worsen have a look.
I have that slight knock since new and it hasn't progressed.

Great advices so far. It did pass it's MOT and the MOT only picked up the knock but declared it benign in that there was no MOT failure. Am hoping that this expensive repair cures and if it doesn't they don't just charge me and move onto replacing other components in a round robin hunt.

I would not waste my money until I could confirm the fault. It is your choice.... 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Our Freelander 2 has the very same symptom. It's been diagnosed as the rack but try flushing the system and replacing the reservoir and replacing the oil with LR branded. I flushed an extra 2 litres through which has helped.

It still has a slight knock but nothing like it had originally. Quote to replace the rack alone was £540 and with pump £790 from an LR specialist.

We have left for now and pay when it becomes more of an issue. 2007 LR Freelander 2 GS - factory tints, LR mud flaps, 2013 facelift)
Problems/solutions include: rear diff pinion replaced, stearing rack and pump replaced, alternator earth cable replaced (plus new alternator as misdiagnosed), throttle body replaced, MAP sensor replaced, secondary earth cable...
2002 MG TF 160 1.8i VVC - Gone
1998 MGF 1.8i VVC - Gone

Land rover dealer fitted 2 x strut top mount plates (LR part LR032578).

Total part costs £54
Labour £344

Total cost £478.12 inc VAT

It fixed the steering knotch and knock. I can't comment on how hard a job it is to change these but that's a whack of labour!