I drive a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo and a few weeks ago I turned into a gas station and something made a loud ping noise in the front end, since then when I go over bumps it makes a hollow thump sound and when I hit a lot of bumps at once my steering wheel shakes and I have to slow down for it to stop, any ideas as to whats happening/happened?

sounds like a sway bar link to me as well its a bar mounted to the frame on both sides up front about 1 inch around each end then through the links with a long bolt and rubber cushions mounts to the lower control arm

Could be the start of something known as death wobble you can look this up on google. its very common in older Jeeps I agree that someone should take a long hard look at it but don't start replacing suspension parts like I have done in the past it can become expensive and still not fix your issue. As bad as this may sound I would keep driving the Jeep till the part totally breaks that way you can pinpoint the real issue. I spent over a grand on suspension parts for a 94 JGC only to still have the problem for many more years.

Sounds like a link just broke..... Double check though.

If its stock height i doubt its death wobble

Its your steering stabilizer/damper shock. I replaced mine cause it was doing the same thing and it hasn't done it since. It's a $30 dollar fix

Have the coil springs checked in the front. Sounds like one of the coils may hav broken .