I've had my 82' Camaro for about two years now. I've had an slight irratating metal on metal tapping noise on side streets at 15-30mph while feeling every little bump the road. It's not extreme, but noticable. Along with that, the steering feels a little loose. This may be related, I'm not sure. So far I've done this to attempt to correct the problems: replaced shocks and struts, new tires with fresh alignment, new brakes, new transmission mounts and I've changed out the wheel bearings as well.
The problems still exist. I'm worried if I continue to driving it that something else could go wrong. I never hear popping noises keep in mind. The other day I popped the dust cover cap off of my strut tower and made sure the nut was nice and snug, but I noticed there was no bushing there. Is there supposed to be? I've searched through my shop manuals to find out and the part breakdowns didn't show a bushing or some kind of cushoning there. I know on the rear end where the shocks are under the backseat there are bushings here. But none on the front end strut tower?

 

IIRC, there is a bushing there (whether you can see it or not, I don't know). Your strut tower mounts are 25 years old or so. Perhaps it's time to replace.

JamesC

 

There is no bushing between the strut shaft/nut and the strut mount. There should be a thick steel 'washer' that the strut bolts to. This 'washer' is attached to the thick rubber disk that holds the strut shaft centered in the mount. Kind a hard to put into words, heh?

Check your sway bar end links (connect the sway bar ends to the a-arms up front and the rear end in back), front and rear along with the sway bar bushings at the sway bar to body mount points.

Put your front end up with the suspension loaded-jack stands under the a-arms but clear of the ball joints. Check for steering play starting with the steering shaft into the box and trace the movement through the linkage to find out where the slop is. Don't forget to check the rag joint which connects the shaft to the box, it's under the plastic cover. Make sure your idler arm doesn't have any play up and down. Jack up your tires slightly to make sure there's no vertical play in the ball joints.

Typical worn components are the center link and rag joint. Resist any urge you may have to tighten the adjustment on your steering gear box.