I too work in a shop that has less than ideal "techs" working there now but there's nothing that I can do about that. Good techs today are VERY hard to find and when a shop gets busy and needs bodys to help, they hire almost anyone who's alive.
OK, now for the flame trap hoses, why do you want to remove the intake manifold? You can simply test those hoses by blowing through them (even with your lips) and if you can blow through them, they aren't the problem (NOT likely clogged). Are the vacuum lines to the flame trap housing and elsewhere good (not clogged....blow through if need be)? Removing the intake manifold isn't THAT bad of a job if you're determined but I think you'll be wasting time unless you're sure that something is clogged.
As for the noise, hard to know w/o actually seeing the car/hearing the noise but if making noise at almost full turns, lube the steering stops. Otherwise, I'd look/listen for worn parts but I don't care to guess w/o seeing/hearing....too easy to guess wrong on noises described online IMO.