The car veering side-to-side, often with the curvature of the road, can be improper alignment.
Worn bushings can cause the suspension parts to travel on a path "forward to back" that they were not intended to do, shifting the trajectory of the car, as well.
Creaking or popping can be a few things; Is it coming from any particular side? CV Joint (on either side) will make a popping sound, though more notably when loading the car with any force (acceleration/braking) and amplified moreso when turning as well (but can do it when straight, or coasting, etc...)
Also misaligned parts could be rubbing, and popping past other metal parts. Any freshly scraped nicks, etc, in your suspension's area? (telltales from the tie-rod (or other things) rubbing on other parts?)
What about wheelbearings? Now I know someone will say "nu-uh.." and that normally wheel bearings make more of a whirring sound at speed, and go away when turning one direction, and increase when turning another.. HOWEVER: the bearing could actually be BAD, or the outer race could be spinning within the hub itself, causing a MUCH LOUDER and more noticeable "pop..grind...... poppop" type of "metal-on-metal-with-bits-of-gravel-in-between-the-surfaces" sound. extreme cases will show shavings of metal (pieces of the bearing) on the inner side of the rim, and surrounding area, though that would be like.. LAST LEG type of a case.
Ray
