I'm getting a clicking noise from the front suspension as I go over small or large bumps in the road. Most notable at lower speed - 15-50 mph. Could this be the front struts going? (is that the sound they make when they are shot?) Just trying to get an idea if anyone else here has seen this.

Its an 03 Protege 5 with 130,000 miles. I replaced both front bearings 10,000 miles ago. I Don't think its the half shafts, because this doesn't occur while turning, unless there is a bump - mostly while going strait.

Thanks in advance.

 

Well, it could be a lot of things, but here's the list as I know it (and can think about it now... Struts by themselves don't usually make noise, unless a squeak develops as the shaft becomes dry (non-lubricated.) They just make the ride and handling worse.
1) Strut cap (upper) bearings
2) Ball joint(s)
3) Sway bar bushings and/or link ends
4) Lower control arm bushings

Did I miss anything, guys?

 

Have you checked the CV joints lately? You just might have a cracked boot with loss of lubricant. If this is so, you probably still have time to recover, since you state you don't get the clicking noise while turning, but only when the shaft is loaded then unloaded at low speed or on bumps. If one boot has cracked, replace both.

 

Another item: Do you have hub caps? If so, take them off and check for loose objects, small stones, etc. behind them.
Years ago I had an old Volvo rear wheel drive which "clicked" from the drive train when accelerating or decelerating. We'd just come back from holidays, were broke, and I was dreading paying for a drive train overhaul.
While doing the post holiday dustvac to get rid of the sand, I found an empty soft drink can, which one of our little pride and joys had used to house her beach pebble collection, underneath the front passenger seat. Removing it fixed the drive train problem.

 

2001 protege has links from sway bar end to frame of car.
I have replaced these "lifetime" joints toooooo many times.
easy to fix if you have same suspension setup

 

another thought ...... I grind of nut with LOTS OF CARE because nut is impossible to remove . attached to plastic joint in link.
melted the first one I did . grinding nut ( dremel ) worked best and fastest