Diagnostic is not a double effort. It is part of the job. Let's say for example, instead of the pop originating from any of the front suspension or steering parts that you have a crack somewhere in the attaching part of a frame rail or control arm ear. Every time the wheel is turned, it flexes that area and pops. I think that's unlikely, but I'm just throwing a "what if" out there. After doing all this work "what if" something like that is the case? You'll still have the issue. Without diagnostics, you have not 100% verified the problem. Have fun. I'm out.