Clunking and wheel movement
 

So everytime I give gas, brake, or go over a bump, my front driver side wheel clunks. Today I had a friend drive my car and make the clunking noise and the whole wheel assembly is literally moving back and forth. I think it's a ball joint but I just replaced it like 2 months ago and don't know why it would go bad so fast. My teacher was saying it could be the radius rod bushing or LCA bushing. I was prying on random things and the LCA bushing that bolts to the frame seemed to have a lot of play in it so I'm thinking it might be that. Does anyone have any input?

Re: Clunking and wheel movement
 

I replaced my front right upper control arm for the same reason. But you could pull back and forth on the wheel and see the play in the control arm which made the issue easy to see. When I pulled the UCA the ball joint was fine but the joint's press-fit into the arm was sloppy and the rubber bushings on the chassis side were toast. There was enough play in the wheel/knuckle assembly that it was affecting my alignment and nearly ruined a tire.

Re: Clunking and wheel movement
 

check torque on the radius rods.

Re: Clunking and wheel movement
 

...and the two bolts that hold them to the lower control arms. Also check the axle nut. If the axle is loose, the whole wheel will move like you have a bad wheel bearing.

If you have not done so already, put the front of the car on jackstands and work with a friend on pushing and pulling on various parts until you find where the play is. As Pirate mentioned, check the upper control arm too. Really, you should check everywhere the suspension moves/pivots.

Brian.