Lately I've been hearing a knocking noise as I turn the wheel either direction. At first it was only one or two pops, but now it'* up to 10 or so.

Would this be an intermediate shaft getting really bad, or possibly the rack? It doesn't sound like a CV clicking, it'* more of a muffled popping sound as I turn the wheel, and more under the center of the car up towards the firewall. (Possibly telegraphing up the steering shaft.)

Thanks for any suggestions or opinions.

Possibly a strut mount bearing.

Please remind us..mileage on the car?

About 148,000 miles.

Now that you mention that, I think that'* it.

There'* quite a few here that have had success prolonging the life by lubricating the mount by removing the top cover to gain some access to lube. Not sure if your 00+ will allow that same access at the top cover. IIRC you should be able to.

Does it sound like this
http://www.zippyvideos.com/514136597...ateshaftsound/

Yep, sure does.

If it sounds like that, that'* likely the intermediate steering shaft. Here'* the techinfo article on the fix.
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=article&k=111

I listened to it again, and yes it sounds like that, but it also has a "stretching" sound as I turn, becoming quieter and higher pitched as I turn it more.

I knew already that my intermediate shaft is noisy, but I also think that my strut bearing is going, too. That may explain why I keep losing alignment. Or it could be the one million railroad tracks in town, and the poor pot-hole filled roads. My entire suspension system constantly takes a serious beating.

My question is this: If I can't do anything about either issue for, say, six months, what am I looking at possibly happening?

P.*. I sure do wish a fellow BC'er lived nearby to help. I can barely walk now, much less work on my car anymore. :?

The intermediate shaft clunk is more of an annoyance than anything else. It could continue to slowly get noisier, or it could stay as it is. It is not a safety hazard.

If the strut bearing is going, without getting some kind of lubrication in there to at least slow the process, eventually it will fall apart. The 00+ doesn't have quite the room as the earlier models, but if you could find a way to get some type of lube into it, either from above, or below, that would greatly slow down the process. How long before it goes is impossible to say.