So for a couple of months now i have been hearing a loud CREAK from my left wheel when turning. THIS ONLY HAPPENS when its kind of cold. During hot times it dont make noise. But recently it also started to clunk, sometimes it gets loud as if some metal is hitting. so i took off my wheel and took a look.

i see noticed some play on certain parts but i am not exactly sure of the parts name.

HERES SOME PICS:


The RED circle i believe is the steering rack? correct me if im wrong. There is play there moving forward and back. NO TWISTING otherwise i would have known it is the tierod. but the play is right where the red circle is. Theres also some grease/fluid. I think its fluid cause i notice my steering fluid drop half inch in level every couple weeks.

The green i believe is the axle. it has some grease too.
heres a better pic.



Can someone tell me if the problem is my whole steering rack? THERES NO PLAY AROUND THE AXLE AND CV JOINTS but i think they might be worn causing the creaking. And the rack causing the clunk?

 

If the inner tie rod has power steering fluid and you are losing fluid, yes, it would appear the rack is indeed bad. However, you will need to have that cv joint replaced too since the boot is torn. It's tough to say where the clunking is coming from but normally the cv joint doesn't start clunking until all the grease has been gone for a little while and you still have grease in there. It's possible the bushings in the rack are making the clunk but it's hard to tell.

The creaking is most likely a ball joint since you are saying it's happening when turning left. The lower control arm bushings tend to make noise when going over bumps. It might be a good idea for you to get new control arms, upper and lower, new lower ball joints, and sway links bushings. After installing obviously you will need another alignment.