I got rid of the noise
I'm pretty sure this car was in an accident before I got it or hit a deer or something. All the damage is localized to the front passenger side. The motor mount was broken right there. There was no belt around my a/c compressor so I got that put on, and a new serpentine belt. The outer tie rod on that side was damaged and so was the rack and pinion boot. One mechanic didn't tell me all that and tried to overcharge for just the belt and mount but another mechanic let me know what was really going in and was fair with the price.
No more engine knocking, no more loud squealing, and no more high idling and jerky performance.