We changed the one on my daughter's car today and I can honestly say it's a b@st@rd of a job

not as bad as doing the thermostat on an 1.9cdti vectra. but agreed not a fun thing to be doing any day of the week.

I remember a Mk1 Golf GTi steering rack from over 20 years ago as an unpleasant experience. Turned out it wasn't even the part at fault.

I assume new shape (or newer) the ones mounted to the subframe?
If an earlier one then your a wuss!