Mk1 Focus Couple of suspension issues

I had a creaky noise from the front of my old Focus at about the same mileage in similar circumstances. I changed the ARB drop links and everything was quiet again. One of the bushes had split and had let all of the grease out, but it wasn't visible until the links were removed.

I don't know about the =A310 links on eBay - I replaced them with Ford OEM parts from a dealer. IIRC they weren't expensive.

A good quick way to check the bushes is to jack the wheel up and give the wheel a wobble top and bottom and side to side, you should be to notice if any unwanted play. Another thing to look at is anti roll bar links, if any play you will get a lot of knocking noise when going over bumps. Hope this helps . Pattern parts are pretty reliable, sod the main dealers they just like to rob your wallet :)

I think if you read the OP, that has already been done.

I have to disagree with you here. Ford prices are often competitive, and for some service items are actually cheaper than a factor.

For example, a few years back front suspension arms for an Escort could be had from a factor for 20UKP. They would often only last a year. Genuine ones were only a fiver more, but could be expected to last for perhaps five years!

Things like filters are cheaper at my dealer for my Focus than at the factors and you have the peace of mind of having the correct part.

In over 40 years of "car tinkering", I've found things like pattern brake parts can have as little as half the service life of the genuine article.

Oh, and dealers don't set parts prices; the manufacturers do.

Chris

Err, no. Oil filters for most Fords I've owned have been cheaper from the main dealer. Things like rear ARB bushes are too and of better quality.

Drop links from local ford dealer are =A343 + vat each Local motor factor has "cheap" ones for =A36 and "good" ones for =A312 each (both incl vat). I don't think the dealer will be getting my money this time

Steven

He may do next year when the rattle comes back.

Chris

Chris

There is that, time will tell.... The guy at the motor factors said it was a popular part - he didn't say if it was popular with one person :)

Thanks all for the feedback so far, incase it's not the drop links, what is the best way to check the top mounts and lower arms? what is the best way to check for play and how much should there be?

Thanks all

In your original post you mentioned that some play was detectable in the OS lower arm ball joint. If there is no detectable play in the NS, then the next move must be to change the OS one.

Chris

There was play in the lower are bush, not ball jount. But i'm not sure how much is normal. Not checked the other side though. I'll do that.

Thanks

An update if anyones interested.

Same amount of play on the other side (rear bush on lower arm)

The drop links felt ok, no play, but I swapped them anyway. When I removed the old ones there was plenty of play in the ball joints!

New ones fittet and it's lovely and quiet now.

Thanks all for the advise.

Steven

i have a knocking sound coming from the front of my 2004 focus. i have chan ged the drop links and still knocking sound.i can't find any play on either side of the front lower arms so i am now stuck for ideas.

on mine it was a worn out shock absorber.

Two years ago, my 04 reg failed an MOT because of a broken Macpherson strut spring. I was completely unaware of it. Last week it failed again because of various steering links and ball-joints. Mileage is just over