1996 Chev Cavalier 2.2 automatic When backing up and turning to the right I hear a clunking noise from the front end. Hard to say but I think it's comming from the front left side.

This would be your CV joint going out on that side. Probably has a bit of a grinding feel to it as well. The way to tell which side, and to confirm, jack up the suspected side until the front wheel is just off the ground. Leave the other side on the ground. Make sure you put it on a jack stand or block. Set the parking brake, and Start the car. Put it into gear, and turn the wheel to the side that it normally clunks. It will probably sound fine until you turn to the extreme, and then it will start clunking. Do the same for the other side, and it shouldn't do it. It's usually the outer CV joint that goes out, and often times you can see it by a torn CV boot.