Nissan Repair: SUSPENSION, strut bearings, loose bolts

Question
1996 NISSAN MAXIMA...WAS IN SLIGHT FRONT END ACCIDENT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT...TAKES THE BUMPS IN ROAD EXTREMELY HARD..REPLACED THE STRUTS AND IT DID NOT HELP AT ALL...WHEN IT RAINS SOMETHING SEEMS TO GET WET AND IT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT END IS GOING STRAIGHT AND THE WHEELS ARE GOING SIDEWAYS...ALSO WHEN IT HITS BUMPS THE WHEELS KINDA FEEL LIKE THERE GOING SIDEWAYS A LITTLE BIT
WHEN YOU SHAKE THE TIRES THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO MOVE THERE IS ALSO A CLUNKING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN...VERY CONFUSED...SOMEONE IS GOING TO LOOK AT THE TIE RODS FOR ME...WHAT ALL COULD IT BE...IF I HAVE A LIST THEN I CAN START AT THE TOP AND WORK MY WAY DOWN

Answer
Cheryl,

One of the strut bearings is bad and that is what is making the clunking noise.  On your year it was the driver's side.  This is the top thing that the strut pivots on when you turn the wheel.  I would bet the front end is loose from the wreck and what I mean is the subframe that holds the engine to the body.  I would have a body shop put it on a frame machine and check for frame alignment and to make sure there are no loose bolts or cracks in the frame.  I am sure the struts you installed are fine.  Yes, you could put it on a lift and move the strreing wheel back and forth and see if there is any slop in the steering.  But, given a shop installed the struts and aligned it they were probably not looking for frame damage.