bcgallacher:
Read my OP again please?
We are NOT in flight when carrying out "full & free" checks. Therefore Q pots and speed control methods are irrelevant.
I am quoting previous cases of damage to a Boeing aircraft which had large rudders, as has the NG, resulting in a recommendation to treat them with more respect when doing the pre-flight check.
I may rephrase the question as "what is causing the clunk as the assembly reaches its full deflection" and is there potential for damage to the actuators?
I am very cautious when exercising the rudders and the other controls, but I fear the current crop of airline pilots have forgotten this most basic of skills and am concerned about the possible outcome of such "assertive" handling.
