Front end knock

Bad A Arm bushings wouldn't cause steering issues, but they could cause noise, usually not knocks though. Does speed change the sound at all, how about if you brake as you hit a bump? You already changed the most common reason for that noise with the end links and bar bushings plus the shocks. Can you tell if it's more from one side or the other? A way to check that would be to record the sound under the hood first on one side then the other. When you hear it, does it repeat? IE; you hit the bump and clunk or is it multiple clunk sounds. Like spring was bouncing. I would probably start by looking at the ends of the control arms, you are looking for any shiny areas where they are contacting something nearby, also look at the areas near the bump stops for the same reason. A worn bushing could have let one of the A-Arms move enough it is hitting. Do you know about when it started? Was there anything unusual like hitting a large pothole or curb? Is it running stock tires and rims or at least stock sizes? Can you feel the knock in the floor or steering wheel?

No rush, missing them could be but it would take some very weak springs or a large bump to cause it to be a constant thing if it's the stops. Do you have a reliable bump nearby that you can use for testing? Take it and try driving so only one side hits it and see if it's more pronounced on either side. Then try it with your foot just barely touching the brakes. A loose caliper or mount can cause a ruckus at times. If those change nothing you could try stuffing a bit of padding on each side of the hood and see it that changes things.

If you can hunt up someone with a chassis ear it would help, that is basically a series of piezo microphones that attach to whatever you like and then you listen with headphones as you select the different ones and use them to track down the source. The poor man's way is to use one of the cheap digital sound recorders and clamp/tape it in place and keep moving it until you find the loudest spot of noise.

No there shouldn't be play in the shock bushings, also when they are properly torqued down the inner sleeve should be tightly squeezed in the mount. I have added fender washers on some when the sleeve was a loose fit in the mount.

Don't be embarrassed, it happens to all of us now and then. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as well.