I am purchasing a 2007 Monte, 150K miles, engine and transmission seem to be in great operating shape, but there is a noise louder than a click, less than a clunk if that makes sense when I turn the wheel even a little bit in either direction. it is a short sharp noise that happens as soon as I turn the wheel whether parked or in motion, but I can turn the wheel the full range with no noise after the initial click/clunk. Then I hear it again when I change direction and can go all the way to the far end of the range of turning on the other side with no noise. If parked, I turn the wheel 10-15 degrees back and forth and the noise in in both directions, only happens when direction changes at any point in the steering range. Doesn't seem to be any delay in the tires moving at all. Car handles well otherwise. Rack was replaced two years ago, and he says this started about 2-3 months ago not too long after replacing the power steering pump. CV joint? Rack? Ball joints? Sway bar linkages? Confused on what most likely cause is here. Any ideas?

 

Id start by chucking it up on Jack stands and checking out the tie rod ends. Wiggle the front wheels L/R to see if there's any slop there. Also get someone to turn it the wheel to make the noise while you're under there so you can see if you can hone in on a specific area.

One other thing to research that comes to mind whenever I hear Wbody and clunk noises while turning is the ISS issue (not the space station kind, the intermediate steering shaft). Several TSBs related to ISS clunk / replacement and lots of DIY threads of people greasing them for temporary relief. Hard to tell if its a possible culprit from a word description of the noise alone, but its certainly worth spending some time reading up on- especially if you try the above stuff I suggested and come up with nothing at all.

 

One possibility could be the intermediate steering shaft.