Mountaineer vibration and clanking

I have a 1998, Mercury Mountaineer, with 117000 miles, and its an all wheel drive 5.0 V8.

I've had many problems with this vehicle, but all mostly electrical and the radiator. I'm not gonna lie either, this is my first car and I have used its all wheel drive to my advantage. So it has some wear to it.

The vehicle has always had a clicking coming from the engine on excelleration, but thats the least of my worries because its always done that. For about a month the car had a slight cyclical vibration (every second or so there would be a short vibration). Then I was driving 55 coming to a red light so I let off the gas and instantly the vibration got horrible and a loud clanking at a high speed started to occur from what seemed like near the front left. My neighbor knows a bit about cars, and he says it doesnt look like the cv joint, U joint or drivetrain( I think). Now it clanks at all speeds faster and faster with no rythem. My father refuses to take it in to a shop and now he thinks its the rotor, which seemes loose when the tire is off.
Any response would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.