Ford focus steering rack

Although a few google searches suggests drop link or broken springs could cause clunking sound ?

Had it checked over today at the local ford specialist and they said this is a common fault, although at 45k its unlucky. His advice is the knock is gentle know it will get louder usually and then at some point it starts falling apart seal wise and fluid gushes out and then you have no PAS, has no idea on time frame, which is understandable. But he reckons drive it till it goes as its about £400 to have done with them.

So a Ford specialist recommends that you continue to drive a car with a steering fault? "Till the fluid gushes out". So there you are entering a bend at speed but no fear, you have saved £400. Sounds like a good deal to me.

The fluid would not all leak out at once. There would be plenty of warning from the patches under it long before enough was lost to prevent the PAS from working.

Of course, if you have a nice block-paved drive, you may want to do it sooner rather than later...

Chris

Heya Chris,

I decieded around 10 minutes after that chat to book it in Monday. I've put some cardboard down on the drive for the weekend to avoid any spills as its been down less than 6 months, Mrs pete would not be happy with me lol.

He gave me a quote of £400 he got back to me today after ordering it all and its come in at £375 inc vat with labour, tracking and fluid not too bad I reckon.

It would not be that dramatic remember when cars had no PAS we managed to negotiate bends happily. Although it may be a shock going from PAS to non PAS.

The car is booked in for monday :)

However they had somewhat different steering geometry & rack ratios, it'= s =

surprisingly unpleasant to lose it nowadays.

Indeed; I helped someone tow a broken diesel Freelander the other day, and I was surprised just how much effort was needed to steer the thing. We had to almost stop at sharp turns.

Chris

One problem with broken power steering is that you have to force the fluid the wrong way through all the valves.

if you drain all the fluid out it is much lighter, that was what the banger drivers used to do rather than have all the extra bits for the power assistance.

It wasn't the PAS that was broken on the Freelander though; it's about the only bit of it that hasn't broken yet!

Chris