2001 stratus rt front suspension problems

I'm having problems with my front suspension. It makes a crack sound when I'm driving and sway to the right and to the left. It sounds like it's around the strut area. One time I took it to the dealer and they told me I needed to rivet something together in the wheelwell. I don't know exactly what they mean but they want to charge me around $300 to do the work. I can't afford that. It sounds like a manufacture defect. Can someone help me?