I've been squatting for years and my knees are starting to feel sore. Help?

I, also, am 18 and the guy who prides himself on doing squats the right way, and I have had a little knee pain as well. In fact, your situation sounds scary close to mine. About a month after hitting a 1rep max of 350 (which made my knees feel ready to give out) I started noticing a subtle strange crinkling sound in my left knee, kind of like crumpling saran wrap. Now this scared the everliving **** out of me, so I've toned it waaaay down with squats, and only regularly put my legs under heavy stress doing cleans. I have yet to see a doctor, so I don't know if this is permanent knee damage I have caused (which I'm praying it's not) or just a noisy joint acting up a little. If I was you, I would consult a personal trainer, doctor, or anyone knowledgeable in the area of lifting injuries. Squats are always hard on your joints, regardless of form, just that good form reduces that strain tenfold or greater, and also reduces the chance of back injury.