maybe the plastic liner is coming loose on the inside front portion of the
wheel-well?

Sounds that either come or go when turning the wheel in one direction or
another generally point to a wheel bearing, or in far less cases, to a CV
joint.  It's kind of hard to say though since the term "thumping" is really
not very descriptive.

I don't get a real feeling from reading your post that you do a great deal
of car repairs.  Am I reading that wrong?  If that's true, there probably
isn't a lot you'll want to get into on your own in the front end of your
car.

so you’re thinkin’ cv joint or bearing

Jack up the right front wheel off the ground and let the wheel spin free --  
slowly.  A bad wheel bearing will make a pronounced vibration at one point
of the rotation.  Check the CV joints while you're there for holes in the
boots and grease leakage.

B.

PS: Wheel bearing and/or driveaxle replacement you /could/ do yourself...but
much better to let a competent garage do it for you.

A lot of those sounds if not obvious usually wind up being a strut
mount or a broken coil spring. CV joints typically don't clunk.
Bearings don't usually don't clunk either. Good luck