Alright guys, I know that at 170,000 miles on the body, my car is about due for a front end rebuild. The problem is, I can't afford that right now and am curious whether these noises are related to worn front end parts or a more serious problem.

When turning, especially when making sharp or narrow turns, knocking noises can be heard from the front end as the wheel is turned.

Very often during a braking, a pop can be heard from the front end.

Also, when backing out of a parking space, if you turn the wheel as far as it can go, the whole car bangs and jerks as if I had a front differential that was locking and unlocking. But my power steering belt is loose, so I assume this problem is from the belt slipping on the pump.

 

Wow your in trouble. Sounds like your CV joints are about to **** the bed.

 

I'd suspect your control arm bushings, but it's easy enough to check your whole front end. Jack up the front of your car until the front tires are a few inches off the ground. You should be able to just look at the bushings and see if the rubbers worn out. Have someone grab the tire and turn the wheel back and forth. Look at where the tie rods connect to the spindels and steering linkage and where the idler arm and pitman arm conncect to the steering linkage. They should both move together. Put a pry bar or something long you can get some stank on under the tires and pry up and down and look for any play at the ball joints.

 

Whats the diff between CV and ball joints? Never been down the front end suspension road before. I did notice some "joints" that appeared the have the rubber boots around them crushed. I'll post up a photo tonight if I can get one.

 

I was being sarcastic. 3rd gen camaros dont have CV joints. You where most likely looking at tie rod ends.

 

Oh. LOL!

Well what could be causing the car to behave like this? Or does it just need a rebuild in general?

Also, what area do I check to make sure the steering box hasn't cracked the frame which seemed to be a common problem with these cars?

 

bet ya ten bucks that you'll need a idler arm as well....they go bad OFTEN. could be upper strut mount bushings....you probably need to rebuild the whole front end with that many miles anyway. I would start one piece at a time and do the whole thing personally.

 

I replaced the idler arm 2 months ago after I wrecked the car, but the shop used a sh!tty duralast control arm which already has rust forming all over it. That will be coming out when I buy a rebuild kit from Spohn. $150 wasted...