Knocking noise in suspension when turning slowly on my focus

[Grahamr123]

Pulling out of the Morrisons car park this afternoon, my focus (2001, 117,00 miles, TDDI) starting producing a knocking sound from what sounds like the offside front suspension.

It happens when turning sharply at low speeds. I can feel it through the steering wheel and clutch, and it feels like a spring as it reverberates for a second or two. It doesn't really jolt the steering, but you can feel something moving.

Driving normally at 30mph and light turning the car feels fine, although I haven't tried going any faster.

Any idea what it could be? I've read that it might be the droplinks, but I don't know anything about them or how to tell.

Thanks!

[BliarOut]

CV joint...

[All that jazz]

Grahamr123 said:

Pulling out of the Morrisons car park this afternoon, my focus (2001, 117,00 miles, TDDI) starting producing a knocking sound from what sounds like the offside front suspension.

It happens when turning sharply at low speeds. I can feel it through the steering wheel and clutch, and it feels like a spring as it reverberates for a second or two. It doesn't really jolt the steering, but you can feel something moving.

Driving normally at 30mph and light turning the car feels fine, although I haven't tried going any faster.

Any idea what it could be? I've read that it might be the droplinks, but I don't know anything about them or how to tell.

Thanks!

CV joint fked.

/thread.

[TheEnd]

Does it do it from the wheels turning round (ie if you stopped, it would stop) or from the turning of the wheel when stopped (as in if you were parked and turned the steering wheel, would it make a noise)

[LuS1fer]

Could also be a broken spring or screwed top mount bearing. The spring is not always obvious as the broken bit drops off and the spring half-reseats. Very common these days with potholes - happened on my Mondeo 2 and my Golf III. Never had a CV joint go though apart from an old Mini where the gaiter kept splitting (new gaiter solved that, not a new CV joint).

Which of course doesn't mean it's NOT the CV joint either but a split gaiter is often the cause or result.

[Grahamr123]

TheEnd said:

Does it do it from the wheels turning round (ie if you stopped, it would stop) or from the turning of the wheel when stopped (as in if you were parked and turned the steering wheel, would it make a noise)

Yes, even stationary it makes the noise.

[TheEnd]

I'd guess that would be a broken front spring in that case.

[The Wookie]

Broken spring or knackered top mount bearing

[Grahamr123]

doogz said:

Oh.

Unlikely to be a CV joint or drop link then.

Like someone just said, knackered top mount bearing perhaps? Or a spring that's not sitting in the spring pan properly.

Worth getting it looked at sooner rather than later, before your spring pops out and bursts your tyre at 70mph, or something else equally unlikely, but nasty, happens.

Ouch, ok.

Is that expensive to get repaired usually?

[RobCrezz]

Im going to guess at top mounts also. Worth changing them if they haven't ever been done anyway as the rubber perishes.

[Allyc85]

Drop links are a very common fault on the Focus and might be worth a look. You can get new ones for about £10-15 too.

[MrsMiggins]

I had exactly the same thing and it was the spring.

ETA £39 plus 1 hour labour to fit.

[Viper]

broken springs are also a common fault on the older Focus

[The Wookie]

Viper said:

broken springs are also a common fault on the older Focus

Incidentally, a spring broke on my mate's Mondeo yesterday while we were faffing about getting into it. fk me it was loud, and accompanied by a cloud of dust as well! Plus a massive chunk of coil fell out as we drove off!