Diagnosing front end clunk
 

Trying to chase a clunk on the front end;
So far I have replaced the foward LCA bushings, lower rear LCA, and swaybar end link. The next thing I will try is the spring perches and forward LCA ball joint. Hopefully the damper is not shot.

Any other possible items?

Sway bar bushings? CV joints/boots in good shape?

Maybe check front diff and front guibo is nice and tight.

Look at any of the ball joints?

Guibo? The boots look good.

Ball joints may be moving too easy but no rips.

After having an assistant rock the steering wheel and lifting the car and shaming the wheels it seems like the rack. When the steeringwheel is rocked a definite percussive sound can be hear and felt in the tie rod. It can also be observed when shaking the wheel and tire by hand.

Yeah I have play there too.

One way to confirm is to slide off the boot from the rack housing so the rack is exposed. Then move the steering wheel left to right. You may see the rack move up and down like I did.

Looking into it there are plastic bushings in rebuild kits but I've never seen a diy on them. Most people just buy a rebuilt.

Removed front sway bar completely (bar, links, bushes, but left retainer) and it feels as nimble as my new rav4 with no noise to boot. Why doesn't everyone remove their front sway and autocross their SAV?

because we like cars that handle like BMW's and not body-rolling squishmobiles!

If you really don't know the purpose of the sway bar, here's an intro. How sway bars work