Bushings for front end
 

This is my first Jeep so I figured I would ask those more knowledgable than me. My 97 sport is stock and it drives and handles fine. No noticable issues there. It does need an alignment. My question is about noise from the front end. If I drive this thing across a field or even a bumpy road, every bump sounds and feels like pure metal to metal in the front suspension. Others can hear it from a short distance away as well. This is pretty much any bump even at very slow speed. I assume I need some bushings somewhere. I have checked under it several times but cant find anything loose.
Where would you suggest I start? The truck has 164K miles on it so should I just buy a kit and replace everything? Would an alignment find which bushings are bad? Where would you suggest I shop for the bushings if I were to replace them?
My intention is to lift this ole thing in the fall so Im guessing that would take care of it as well but Im almost afraid to drive it too much without replacing something before I do some major damage.

Trackbar? With the Jeep off, have someone shake the steering wheel back and forth and see if anything is moving in the front end, also, give a visual inspection on the rubber. Depending on how large/strong your assistant is, you could have them try to rock the Jeep back and forth to replicate the sound.

Havent tried the sterring wheel trick but I have grabbed all four corners and rocked and shook and pulled and tugged and I cant get any noise at all out of it. I'm 250Lbs and my assistant is 300+ so believe me we have rocked it quite a bit.

Could be the wheel bearings. Theyre located in the hub assembly. Unfortunately youd have to get a all new hub assembly. I cant see it being more the $100 with the core charge.

It's not a wheel bearing. It's something hitting against another object. That's why I think it's a bushing. Was hoping someone could tell me which ones (if any)seem to wear the most. I know a lot of people talk about the track bar. How would be the best way to check those bushings? Long pry bar?

sway bar /disconnect bushings

drives and handles fine sway bar suspect or the bushing the brake caliper mounting bolts go thru