Hello. I've done some minor front end work to fix creaks on speed bumps and thunks when I reverse and turn the wheel sharply. The noises are better but still there. Now I've hit a deep, narrow pothole with the left front tire and heard a nasty loud crack. The car feels like it's swaying more left to right in turns. I can see some jiggle when I push the chassis side-to-side. Plus the steering wheel feels too loose when I drive over 50 mph.

So far all I've replaced on the front end is the left/right control arm bushings; replaced the wheel bearings and rear shocks a month ago. Over 150k miles on the car; no idea what maintenance the former owner did.

So. I've been digging around the archives and it looks like any of these things could be bad: upper strut mount, bolt and bearings/bushings; inner tie rod ball/socket, tie rods, ends and boots; sway bar/stabilizer bar, ends, links and bushings; struts; ball joints. Where should I start? How do these parts work together? What part failures cause what problems? Should I do this part-by-part or use a kit (with my luck I'll end up replacing the whole front end anyway.) Aargh!

By the way, I have the Haynes book but I still feel like I'm missing something after I read it. Didn't like the Chilton at all. Would the Bentley bible be a good buy? It starts at '83 and mine is an '81 chassis with a 70' something engine.
many thanks.....