Well I just refreshed the suspension on my 2004 Jetta and here are the things that noticed:
1. When going over a speed bump, I could hear a fssshhh fsshh sound from the front end.
2. When shifting just right or coasting along and gently stabbing the brakes, the steering wheel would jerk a little bit.
3. When turning tight, -especially going up, into a driveway- there would be a single pop from the front end.
4. When turning sharply onto a rutted road, it wouldn't recenter very well.
5. When driveing over bumps, there was a bad rattle in the front.
What I noticed with an inspection:
1. The strut caps were sitting up about 3/4 inch above the body.
2. The big bushings at the rear of the control arms was torn.
3. It had 150,000 miles on it.
The fsshh noise was the fluid in the struts bypassing. The jerk was the control arm bushings. The pop was the strut bearings. The rattle was the sway bar bushings. The strut caps sitting up high was the strut bushings.
I was going to take before and after pictures and measurements but wasn't feeling well so I didn't.
Now I have to decide if I want to get it aligned. Nothing on the steering was touched and the steering wheel is straight. I'll just see what the alignment guy suggests.
Now all that's left for my 150,000 mile maintenance is the TB and thermostat.