2002 Mountaineer, suddenly started making a loud clicking noise driver side front. Seldom in reverse. Struts and axle look good, nothing hanging down.
Sounds like you need a new axle. You can’t tell by looking at it.
Clicking is usually the CV joints and indicates a new axle.
If the clicking sound is worse on low speed turns from a stop (try both directions), that would confirm a CV joint problem. The axel may look ok, but that doesn’t mean the CV joints are ok.