I have a 1997 Buick Skylark...there is a clunking/rattling noise coming from the drivers side. The tires are tight...there is no give...wheel barring and tyrod ends are fine. Also...the steering wheel will rattle and vibrate when driving down the road, when hitting any sort of bump. This problem has us stumped...any idea what it could be?

1 Collapsed wheel bearings
2 Lose wheel nuts

Jack up front drivers side wheel and grab the top and bottom of tire, give it a good firm wriggle and see if you can detect any movement.

I would tend to believe it's more likely a worn sway bar bushing or link if it's a rattle or a small clunk, if it's a loud clunk probably a strut, try bouncing he back of the car when parked, if you get the clunk probably a strut if only when driving,turning,braking probably just a bushing on the sway bar

How is the strut mount on top ?

Hard to tell without hearing it.
But you could have a pebble behind a wheel cover.
The wheel bearing could be going bad, but then you would also have some vibration through steering and brake.
The CV joint could be bad, but that would be worst on tight turns.

Is this only while driving it, or if you jack it up and spin the tire?
Does it feel loose when jacked up?
Is it hotter than normal?

1) Take car to non dealer shops willing to give FREE opinion

2) Not likely you have a shock in Driver Front wheel, more likely a strut. Not likely strut needs to be replaced, but strut has a STRUT MOUNT (3 bolts of which can be seen when opening your hood) below this it is connected to STRUT BEARING which below it connects to UPPER SEAT OF STRUT or SPRING INSULATOR, that if loose will rattle. Usually, shops will not tighten, because to tighten is same labor as replace the parts. (Since you already dropped $1000 on ToyotaDealer, ask them to tighten FOR FREE since rattle is still there.)

3) There is a part called a "link," connects strut to stablizer bar, that if bushings are bad will rattle.
4) If stabilizer bar bushing(s) bad, will rattle early on but eventually clunking
5) Bad ball joint or tie rod can rattle as well

Never permit any shop to do expensive work on your car w/o first getting a second opinion somewhere else first. Do not tell second shop that you are there for a second opinion.

Shaking steering wheel at highway speed, no braking
1) Bad tire in front, bad tires in front, verify inflation of tires
2) Wheel alignment may be out
3) Front suspension parts (mentioned several above)

Highway speed to suddenly braking shakes steering wheel
1) Front brake rotors need to be inspected for warping
2) Test calipers on empty road at 40 mph, going straight on very LEVEL ROAD, hit brake pedal SOMEWHAT hard while barely touching steering wheel. If car jerks to one side, instead of braking straight on, you may have a caliper, ABS, or brake fluid pressure regulator off.
3) If brake rotors are warped, may as well replace front brake pads at same moment. Use ceramic.
4) When you drive on VERY LEVEL road on highway, steering wheel must be centered, let go lightly of steering wheel. Did car stay in middle of lane? No? Get a 4-wheel alignment.

The first thing to check on a rattling noise is if going over minor bumps in the road if that is when it makes noise is a sway bar link, they make a rattling noise. If you raise that wheel up you might also want to try and wobble the wheel to be sure it is not a tie rod end or ball joint. Typically I run into the sway bar links or the sway bar bushings making the noise. However ive even seen it be a rock sitting on the strut plate.

sounds like either a sway bar end link or shock, more towards the end link tho

something is bent, have a good shop ck it out for you, it may be dangerous to drive.

check the sway bar kinks for play both rear wheels will have to even ramps work good if you have them if the is any play in the links it wil rattle also check for play in the bushings that the bar goes threw tis will also give you the noise you complain of

sound like a worn CV joint