over the past couple of years I have replaced every front end part EXCEPT the lower ball joints. Both have bad boots now but no play. Will do them this spring. However I had a popping and or clunk sound from the rt. hand side that started a couple of months ago. I figured it was the lower ball joint. However after having a bad caliper on that side that was sticking and having replaced that part along with the pads the noise is gone. Still have torn boots and will have to replace the lower BJ's but I think the noise was from the sticking caliper.