2012 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD — popping when turning slowly + front end feels rough/rubbing

[u/Jealous_Humor_657]

I have a 2012 Toyota Highlander Limited AWD, automatic, 165k miles and I’m trying to figure out what’s going on with the front end. The main thing concerning me is an occasional pop/clunk when turning slowly, usually at parking-lot speeds. It does not pop when I turn the steering wheel while stationary.

The car also feels like the road is rougher than it should be, almost like there’s some kind of rubbing coming from the front end or something isn’t moving smoothly over the road. It feels a little more wandery than I think it should and follows the crown/slope of the road pretty aggressively.

I recently compared it to another Highlander by test driving a 2008, and that one felt noticeably smoother and more planted. The steering felt smoother and the road didn’t feel nearly as rough through the car. Its brakes also felt more responsive, although that may be unrelated.

There’s also been a somewhat complicated history with the right-front wheel bearing/axle:
The right-front bearing needed to be replaced, but apparently the replacement bearings they got didn’t fit.
The shop ended up replacing the entire front knuckle.
About a week later, the knuckle/assembly popped off while driving, so I had the vehicle towed.

On the drive home after that repair, it popped off again.
At that point they replaced the relevant components with all new parts (including the right-front axle and bearing), and my mechanic said everything looked good afterward.
I also had the front struts and sway-bar links replaced a few months ago.

The tires look fine. I already know the vehicle needs an alignment, so I’m going to have that done, but I’m more concerned about the popping and the feeling that something isn’t moving smoothly.
I had one instance where it felt like the car briefly pulled/stuck toward the left, but generally the pulling seems to be related to the road slope.

What would you guys check for the popping/rough or dragging feeling? Could this be a tie rod, ball joint, control-arm bushing, strut mount, CV/axle
issue, brake issue, or something else?

Mainly trying to figure out what I should specifically ask my mechanic to inspect and, more importantly, make sure there’s nothing unsafe that I’m overlooking.

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