Another thud/thunk guy signing in!

[Rabid]

2004 Ion, friend can't afford to have it done in a shop and so I volunteered my years of shadetree experience for free. She has been told it's the CV joint, so she's been told how bad that can be and is panicked a touch.

Car in park/drive parked: very light thud when turning wheel left to right 45 to 45 (internediate shaft maybe?)

Car at slow speeds: medium to heavy thunk/thud when turning wheel left to right 45 to 45

Car braking going forward: medium to heavy thunk

Car braking going backward: no thud/thunk

Car on bumps: single thunk/thud and sometimes multiple thud/thunks

Sounds like its definately coming from the drivers side suspension, and right about where the sway bar area/brake pedal is. I know the drivers side strut is blown as it hisses when the drivers corner is compressed by pushing down on the nose, and the passenger side seems to be ok. I havent had the oppertunity to check the bushings yet.

It needed new brakes (rotors/shoes) about a month or so ago, and i did that for her, but the sound was present then and after. (always test drive before and after and triple check a vehicle to make 100% sure it's done correctly) I remarked on it but she said it was fine, so I dropped the issue. Now that someone has scared her. she wont even drive the car. She is getting rides from friends and I get the feeling she is wearing out favors left and right. So, I'll tear it down this weekend and hope you guys can point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

[2006 ion2]

Check the sway bar and control arm bushings and sway bar end links. Cv axles almost never go bad on ions. Intermediate shafts are also known issues.