I have a 84 wagon. Lately when driving on bumpy roads I have noticed a rattly, loose, knocking noise coming from the driver side front wheel area. I looked under the car to see if it was anything obvious but I didn't see anything? What should I check? All I can think of is to look to make sure the lower ball joint is tight, both in the hub and to the control arm. Maybe make sure the axle nut is tight? Any ideas? Its cold and I don't want to spend to much time checking this out.

You thought right. Ball joints. Or tie rods. Put it on jack stands and ee what wobbles. You have to pry between the knuckle and control arm to see if the Ball joint has play.

So is the steering wheel moving when this noise occurs...like with the noise.

 

I'd check tie rods, ball joints,axle nuts, lug nuts, and the axles themselves to make sure they aren't going out/ hyperextended.

The steering wheel doesn't move with the noise but sometimes its like you can feel the vibration through the car slightly...I guess I need to get out there and take a look at the axles, ball joints, and tie rod ends. It could be a wheel bearing maybe? I replaced the wheel bearings on the passenger side like a year ago but not the drivers side. It just doesn't seem like a wheel bearing though.

Every time I had a bad wheel bearing, I heard it. Try driving on a bumpy road or driveway, that's when my bad balljoint makes noise I'd replace it if the PO hadn't broken the bolt that clamps the balljoint...

Ball Joints, Tie Rod, Dead Strut, Bushings, loose caliper.

 

Does the car drift at ill when on a level road. Does it want to follow the rain grooves. How are the tires wearing?

 

Jack up the corner of the car and with a friend shake the tire and whell, and watch the front end parts for play.

 

nipper

What your describeing sounds like the problem i have. The only word to describe it is sloppy. When i drive my car and hit a bump the front end seems to slop around. When i jacked up my car and took a look i could see the lower ball joint slopping around in the hub so there was my answer. Thats the only real way to check it is to jack it up and try to wiggle the wheel around to find the culpret.

 

Ben