New inner tie rods one side sloppy

Hi

I 've just mounted a set of new Meyle inner tie rods to the steering rack. When lifting up the rack, one of the tie rod seems loose and flops around without any resistance, while the other is snug and doesn't move until I put some force to it.

The loose one doesn't have any play in it, but I'm a bit sceptical about installing it  and maybe having to replace it shortly with the engine in. Not sure how much it would affect the steering feel either. So could anyone tell me if this is something to worry about? I mean they are supposed to be the same, but aren't..

Many thanks

 

Flopping up and down freely on a new rod would bother me as well, but if there isn't any in-to-out slop that is the true test.  

I had a new inner that was really tight, and it groaned when it moved up and down with the suspension. It took a few miles before it too loosened up. It is the in/out play that is more worrisome.

yeah there's no in-out play, but it's still mega sloppy compared to the other. It's been over a year since i ordered them though, so I didn't realize they were so cheap. Might try out a replacement.

As you have had them for so long and there's no in/out play I would just fit them as 95% sure there will be no problem with them once fitted and at the end of the day if they do fail in a year or two it's a straight forward job to replace and is possible to do with the car up on axle stands..
No point throwing away parts you have bought and not even fitted…  

Well I suppose you are right about that, if it's not a big problem after all. Good grief the money I have spent on this thing