Any advice as what could cause a front end (left side?) popping noise?

Could be a worn or loose sub frame bushing which may clunk when first put under load or torque from the engine. Try idling the engine at a stop in drive gear and hold the brakes hard...then press the gas pedal slightly to torque the engine and see if the noise occurs. Have a helper try to pinpoint the area of the noise when doing this...try in reverse as well... and look for any signs of movement or clunking in the front subframe, engine /trans mounts, suspension, etc... Not likely a bad CV joint as you would hear the noise under decel or other situations if it were bad or loose.My first thought was a loose sway bar but you seem to have done that...check it anyway....Show more

Wow, total new front end, nice.
That does not sound like the CV joint is bad. Did you do all this work yourself? If not then go back to the shop that did and have them look at it.
If it was the motor mounts they would clunk when you get off the gas, especially if you are say pulling away from a stop, then have to get back on the brakes.

You might try taking it to a shop that knows suspensions. Is everything torqued to spec, and was everything that needed to be torqued at curb level was that done.
Are the CV bolts still all tight.
Are the sway bar bushings binding, sometimes they need grease or if are off by 1/2, they bind up on sway bar when tightened, not sure the exact set up on that car.
A shop can put it on a lift take the wheel off, put suspension at close to curb level, putting pressure on the wheel hub or the rotor, then use a long rod and put pressure in different directions to try to recreate the sound.

I first guess would be it is suspension related, the strut cap or lower strut connection is loose....Show more

Check the motor and transmission mounts...Show more

I'd think motor mount,....Show more

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