Jack the front up and check your ball joints also while you are at it.
Radial (side-to-side) movement in the upper ball joint should not exceed 0.060" (1.5mm).
Axial (up and down) movement in the lower ball joint should not exceed 0.050" (1.25mm).
You can use a dial indicator to measure ball joint play. but It can be done with a tape measure also, but it won't be very accurate.
Jack the front tire off the ground.
Place a jack stand under the axle next to the jack.
Lower to put some weight on the jack stand.
Place a long pry bar under the tire, from the side.
Have someone pry the tire up and down while you watch the lower ball joint for up and down play.
Axial (up and down) movement in the lower ball joint should not exceed 0.050"
Have someone grab the tire at top and bottom to wiggle the top in and out while you watch the upper joint for side play.
Radial (side-to-side) movement in the upper ball joint should not exceed 0.060"
Even if the upper joint checks good, change both if the lower checks bad.
Usually bad Ball joints make a klunk sound when braking.
But stabilizer links can make a faster klunk sound more often.
But yeah man, I hear you on the bugs, I was outside all day yesterday chopping wood up in to smaller sections for a bon fire at like 4, and the bugs kept going in my ears, pissed me off.