Is there any way of telling without taking it off the car?

 

I shouldn't think so unless you get a graunching / squealing sound as it compresses whilst you drive

is there enough room to get a straight-edge in if you can move the dust cover suitably out of the way? but then you'd need to be a contortionist to see any deviations

looks like it's a removal job

only know of the sounds way as my dad had a BX with a bent strut and that did it - if it's bad enough you might notice a difference bouncing the suspension by hand...

Apple

 

Burr

Jack the car up and rotate the nut in the centre of the top mount with a 19mm socket. If the wheel moves in an oscillating way, in and out at the top and bottom, its bent.