suspension noises? need some advise/help

[1995Z/28]

ok guys, heres the deal. when i got my car, the guy told me the car needed struts, when you hit a bump you would hear a deep rattle from the front end and sometimes if in mid turn you would feel it a little in the steering wheel. i put the car on the hoist to find the front LCA bushings were SHOT ( the rear ones) so i replaced both DS and PS LCA bushings (all 4) the problem went away but not completely, and now, the PS is just as bad as it was before. the tie rod ends have been replaced, the sway bar end links have been replaced, and the struts/springs APPEAR to have been replaced ( i cannot confirm that) but they are clean. this noise bugs me the car rides like a lumber wagon. especially if you hit a "washboard" in the pavement, it sounds like the front end is gonna fall out from under the car. also, i think some one at some point may have lowered the car a little but i have no way of knowing for sure. is there a way to tell? and is there a "common" front end part that wears out that makes this "thud-thud-thud" sound over bumps. ive also noticed that when going into curves, the steering feels kinda "heavy". the only thing i would know to do is just replace the entire front suspension (struts, springs, all bushinngs (çept for the LCA's since i already did that) and stut mounts, new ball joints. but that can rack up the $$$$ fast. id rather not fix it if it aint broke. cuz i am! (broke that is!) haha
5 kids and a wife in college dosent leave alot of "play money" on top of me spending money left and right for my CCW and all the things i have to buy to become a reserve.
where do i start?

Thanks,
Kelley

OH! and for the record, its a 95 with 182k on the clock. and all the bushings and hard parts are original.

[1BADAIR]

Double thumb over bumbs? Pull the strut down and check the top nut/mount

[c0ncEpT]

Double thumb over bumbs? Pull the strut down and check the top nut/mount

^ What he said. Look at the upper strut mounts.

[1995Z/28]

OK, Thanks guys! i was hoping thats what you'd say. ill check them out. on my way home ill try to make a short vid and try to catch the noise and ill post it up too, that way you hear what im talking about. i sometimes feel im not very good at describing noises or symtoms. but I will definitely check the sturut mounts. what do i look for on the strut mount to determine if its bad or not? what do i look for and where do i look?

[Formul8d]

I had the thunking noise in my front end and it ended up being my lower ball joints, I just replaced them and the problem is gone. $25 each at Autozone with LT warranty, and $20 to press the old ones out and the new ones in.

[1995Z/28]

I had the thunking noise in my front end and it ended up being my lower ball joints, I just replaced them and the problem is gone. $25 each at Autozone with LT warranty, and $20 to press the old ones out and the new ones in.

i made a short audio clip. but i dont know how to post it up. not ruling out ball joints, as they appear to be original, however, we picked the car up from the control arm and they feel tight. but if they are in fact orig., then it definitely wouldnt hurt to replace them. and i get 20% off at advance auto as im a "seasonal" employee there. dont the replacement Lwr ball joints bolt in? or is that the uppers?
if anyone knows how and is willing to, post up the audio clip i have. PM where to send it. around the 6 second mark is where you hear the "thud thud" as i drove over a ripple in the pavement.

[Gaspo]

my first lt1 car did that too. i took it to my mechanic and he said only one bolt was holding my rack and pinion in? i cant quite remember. he said if that bolt came out i would of ended up in the guard rail

[1995Z/28]

ill check it...its so annoying im getting to the point i dont even like driving the car for fear of it causing damage to other parts.

[2002Z4CSS]

Worn out struts will make a bunch of noise.

[1995Z/28]

sounds like i just need to throw all new ball joints, struts, strut mounts, and bushings in it. rather than try to trace down one specific point of failure. once i replace one thing its just gonna make the next weakest link become apparent.
thanks everyone.
would i benefit from spending the extra money for tubular a arms? or should i just replace the stock arm bushings and leave it at that? i odnt plan on racing the car, 'cept maybe once in a blue moon at the drag strip. but i do like to spend the money on any mods that will help the car handle better.