Suspension issues

[jdeare]

2001 Buick Regal LS. I've got some issues going on that seem to be suspension/wheel related:

1. Kind of a droning/whirring sound from front wheels (or maybe 1 wheel?). Suspect a wheel bearing has gone out

2. Lots of metallic sounding clunks from front end at various times (when the transmission shifts, when braking, when turning. But never consistent. Not totally sure what this could be but lower control arm bushings on my car generally seem to go bad fast.

3. Loose feeling in the steering. Seems like it has developed more play recently. Also seems hard to keep it in a straight line on the highway. But that could be the road I guess.

4. Shimmy/vibration from wheels. Maybe the tires but I've had them balanced twice in the last 3 weeks and the feeling stays consistent.

I feel these issues are conspiring to reduce the drivability of my car. At times I feel uncomfortable driving it in traffic... for example today I was rolling towards a stop light, never came to a complete stop, it turned green, I accelerated and got a loud clunk as well as the feeling that the car was shifting to the left. I have never felt that sensation before and I did not like it.

Any ideas on any of these items?

I'm planning to try to diagnose these issues this weekend, but I have to borrow a garage and I would like to have some idea of what to look for ahead of time. I'm also not too fond of dropping the car off at a mechanic and telling him such a general inconsistent issue.

Car has 40,000 miles (seems very low for this many issues).

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Drew99GT]

Loud clunks/pops from abrupt chassis movements usually point to ball joints, which can also lead to general sloppiness in the steering/suspension.

Loose feeling in the steering could be ball joint and tire rod end related as well.

If it's bad enough to make you lack confidence in safely driving the car, I'd personally take it to a trusted mechanic.

A bad alignment, even if the car isn't pulling, can cause all kinds of problems and a "sloppy" feeling in the steering/suspension.

 

[jdeare]

Yeah I think you're right. Most of the things this stuff could possibly be are beyond my abilities anyway (especially now that I have looked at the procedures!). Unfortunately my mechanic doesn't do alignments/suspension work anymore... I'll have to find someplace new.

 

[Colt45ws]

Yeah, I think if its beyond your abilities you should find someone trustworthy to check over the suspension. Maybe your mechanic can recommend someone since he does not do that work anymore?
It does seem low miles for that kind of issues. Did you buy it new or used? Has it been in an accident, do you know? When I slid my old Cavalier into a curb a 35mph I killed the wheel bearing and the wheel, lol.

 

[jdeare]

In the past he has recommended a local Firestone, so I guess I'll give that a try. Not sure if it's a real recommendation or a democratic one, but at least they're open on Saturday (a lot of the mom & pop places aren't). And I got a 10% off coupon.

I bought it used, but from my grandmother. It has not been in any accidents that required body work, but I have no idea whether it's been run into curbs or anything like that. I know that I have hit a lot of potholes since I've had it... on a lot of the roads I drive on, if you're not hitting potholes you're off the road completely (LOL). Based on the condition of the bumpers, it was driven and backed into a lot of stuff also. My dopey relatives would drive it when they came to visit, who knows what they might've done to it also.