Clicking and rattling from front '03 base

[ogre73]

Hi everyone. I need some help knowing where to look to diagnose this problem.
I have an '03 base model, 150K miles. I have new rotors and pads all around, new outer tie rod ends, and I have had a front-end alignment done not more than three months ago.
The issue started with a clicking in the front end when I would turn the wheel. It wasn't loud, and I could only hear it with the windows down. It seems to be coming more (or only) from the driver's side.
Then I started hearing a slight rattle when going over bumps with that wheel, like manholes and such. Now the click is almost every time I turn the wheel, and the rattle sounds, I don't know, looser? I don't know how else to describe it.
When I got my new tires in April, the guy told me I needed new hub/wheel bearings. I didn't believe him then, and I don't really believe it now, but I don't really know what else to check.
I had the car up on that corner and I checked the wheel for looseness and play, but I didn't really feel any. By now, if I had needed bearings on that wheel, I would have felt a LOT of play (I think?)

If anyone has had these issues or something similar, please let me know and please, anyone speak up with suggestions!
Thanks in advance.
Ogre

[oldblu65]

Have your cv joints checked .

[Iflylow]

CV Joints would be first on my list also.
When you had it up on jacks, did you put it in neutral and spin the wheel? You may be able to hear a bad hub that way. A lot of the time, when hubs go bad on these cars, you will get an ABS/Traction control light first. The hub has a wheel speed sensor built in, that talks to the ABS computer. When the hub starts going bad, the speed signal usually goes bad first.

[j cAT]

when your steering wheel is turned going at 5mph and you hear/feel click/binding this is usually the CV joints....check boots for tears and loss of grease...