Clicking/clunking when steering and going over bumps

[soundquest]

2008 Pontiac Torrent Base. I have replaced the wheel hubs, sway bar bushings, outer tie rods, sway bar links. And still getting the front end clunk when steering and going over bumps. When I have an assistant steering (with wheels loaded) back and forth to duplicate the noise, I can look down and see my rack and pinion moving ever so slightly in tandem with the clunk. Could it be the rack and pinion mount bushing(s)? Inner tie rods? I don't get any slop or play when I try to move the inner tie rods by hand. Steering intermediate shaft looks and feels solid. Any ideas on what it could be?

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

Strut bumpers cause this noise, when were the struts last replaced? The bumpers inside deteriorate and it's metal on metal...Generic pic below...

Doug in P.R.

 

[soundquest]

Strut bumpers cause this noise, when were the struts last replaced? The bumpers inside deteriorate and it's metal on metal...Generic pic below...

Doug in P.R.

Thanks. More information. With my hand on the inner tie rod, I can feel the distinct knocking when the wheels are turned back and forth in small motions -- but I cannot tell if it is energy transfer from somewhere else or from the inner tie rods themselves.

 

[Cavell]

How many miles? I vote for struts. Well, strut mounts specifically.
ive looked at hundreds of equinoxes and Saturn vues in junkyards. Seen 1 suv with newer struts.

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[soundquest]

It has approximately 198,000 miles. Another observation -- with my assistant turning the wheel, I can look through to the rack and pinion and can see it moving back and forth with the steering wheel. Is it not supposed to be 100% secured without any play? Has anyone replaced the rack and pinion bushings on these before?

 

[92 Sunbird LE]

I know they go bad on JBodies...(common problem), mine have 154k miles with a lot of off road driving ( farm life) still good though...

Doug in P.R.

 

[ohyeahjay]

Any update on this, I have the similar noise.

 

[soundquest]

Finally an UPDATE...
The reason for all the clickity clunk junkity junk over bumpity-bumps and steering lumps (sorry, couldn't resist) is the.........
the....
the......!!!
STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT!!!

Yes -- I finally chased it down and absolutely isolated the noise. It is this little beasty: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/RNB-425-160

If you have the same and have ruled the other usual suspect components out... and it most definitely goes through the steering column and wheel with steering play and over bumps... this is the problem (but get under the car and grab hold of the shaft while an assistant moves the steering wheel in short back and forth moments... then you will know with certainty. Turns out this is very common on GM platforms in this generation.

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