Chrysler Repair: front right suspenition noise, timing belt inspection 2.4L, chrysler pt cruiser, shock absorber

Question
HI
every time we go in s small pothole the right wheel makes a noise  there are new shock and tires in the front about 6 months old the noise happen 3 months ago and it is getting louder
a friend told me that it was a rack pinion problem
do i have to replace it complete or just the right side ?
how difficult this is  ?
thank you
also i have 95k miles in this car, besides timing belt what else i need to replace ?
thank you again

Chrysler Pt cruiser 2001 touring edition 2.4l engine 5 speed  NA engine  

Answer
Hi Ernesto,
Unless your friend inspected the car and after that concluded it was the rack and pinion, I would doubt that is the cause. More likely it would be the shock absorber attachment bolts are loose, or one of the bushings on the stabilizer bar is worn out, or some other suspension bushing on that side needs replacement. The rack and pinion involve the steering mechanism of the car and I know of no reason why it would make a noise when you hit a pot hole. So see if you can find any loose bolts or worn bushings, and if not go to a reputable independent alignment shop and ask them to find the source of the noise.
On the timing belt, I would inspect it first before jumping to the conclusion that it needs to be replaced because of the mileage. The upper cover is held on by two screws and so it is easy to remove and inspect the belt's condition. In any case the recommended replacement mileage for normal servic is 102,000 miles, and when you get to that point is the time to look at the belt and crank the engine around a bit so you see the entire belt. If you see no signs of degradation I would not replace it yet.
Roland
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