So I'm a mechanic newbe and here is what I've done and my situation...

Orignally I had a heating/cooling problem and figured out I had a blown head gasket. After much research I decided to take this task on my own. It took my five days (60 hours total), being new and limited tools and the damn crankshaft nut, but I replaced my head gasket, manifold gaskets, valve cover gasket, spark plug gaskets, timing belt, water pump and tensioner.

Anyways, I put the car down and ran it after 5 days. The engine ran perfectly fine and no more overheating. However as I drove around the block I heard a very faint metal scraping noise like "boom boom boom..." (not loud). The noise was even there as the car went down the hill in neutral with the engine turned off. I got out and tried to tighten the lug nuts on the right side, where the noise was coming from. The whole right tire moved a lot front and back! I compared it to the other tires and it moved significantly more than the other tires when I tightened those lug nuts.

I am thinking that it is something with the suspension, because for 5 days the car remained jacked up on the front left side and all the front weight was on that front right tire. My father is not a mechanic but has some knowledge and is guessing it is something to do with "tie-ends" when I asked him over the phone?I am still reading about what these are and other possibilities. Any suggestions?

Also if you look at the attached pic, what is that huge nut on my right front tire? It is on the other tires, but only on this tire does it prevent me from pulling off the tire after removing the lug nuts.

 

I think that huge nut is the hub nut and keeps the hub connected to the half axle. Sorry I can't help more, but you're description of the problem is really good, and I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be able to help you soon.

 

sounds like tie rod ends to me. they're pretty cheap at autozone. you'll need to rent a tie-rod seperator there too.

They're only located in the front of the car, and if you're changing them on one side, they probably need to be changed on the other side too. There's an inner and outer to both sides, making 4 in total. It'll run you 50 bucks probably. Its a common problem and there might even be a DIY on youtube.

If someone else thinks it might be a problem other than his tie rods, please chime in. (I'm no mechanic... but I just changed these on my girlfriend's pontiac)