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Forgot one detail. while i had the front passenger tire off last weekend using just the tire jack (i.e., front driver side where firmly on the ground), when i pushed the car side to side i could hear a popping noise that obviously couldn't be coming from the passenger wheel assembly/suspension. Sounded like it was coming from the center of the car, but my guess is it was coming from the driver side front wheel assembly and perhaps i've been focusing on the wrong side.