im after some help please......ive a 51 reg mk3 tddi mondeo, i had the tracking done as car was pulling to left, all good for a day or so then went back to how it was before? another thing is when on full lock steering feels weird as if wheels are overturnig/slippin??? lastly steering feels quite heavy at times, more so when slowing down at roundabouts/junctions???

also slight clunking from underneath when going over speed humps?

any ideas please.........thanks for your help re thermostat, spot on all sorted!!

 

Check you have not got a snapped spring ,very common, top may have gone so you may not realise ,this may also be your clonking and heavy steering ,had the same
thing and it was this mk 3 mondeo

 

is this simple to check? do i just look at spring from wheel side? or do i need to take apart?

 

If you look at the spring right at the top where it dissapears into the turret it may be obvious if it's snapped.

If they have snapped though it's always worth changing them in pairs and also get the top mounts changed at the same time as these can suffer due to the increased loads.

As an example the springs are between Ł50/60 a side and the top mounts are around Ł12 each. Go to ford with a chassis number to get the correct springs for your car.

Labour varies but it shouldn't be more than 3 hours even with issues but it's well worth it if you don't have industrial strength spring compressors as they are a bit long to do with halfords specials.

Also get your complete geometry checked with front and rear alignment done as there is all sorts of adjustment in the rears as well.

 

had tracking checked (guy didint seem to interested, as was where i had it before, n it was free) anyhow, says its ok, tracking spot on, but still pulls to left like mad, swapped tyres over on that side as the 1 on was bald on the inside???? anyhow steering feels better know on full lock, but still pulls pulls pulls to left??!?!!?! lost......could it be the bushes????? as guy said it is something else, but he didnt no what to recommned?? (some mechanic)

 

have you checked the steering rack ?

 

on mine i had an ussue with the rack end being worn, the bit that the tre's screw into and then screws into the end of the rack couldn't be replaced on it's own

but it was only knocking, there was no pulling or anything

 

Has the car had the clutch replaced? Apparently you need to 'realign' the subframe with special pins afterwards, if not, the tracking will never be quite right.

 

what type of alignment machine are they using if its just a supertracker or similar you set the fronts to the assumption the backs are straight could be the back out is it an estate or hatch as they have different rear suspension set ups which are both adjustable if someone has even changed the rear subframe did they redo the rear wheel alignment hope that helps

 

you need it lasered

 

Sounds like the bushes in the lower arms, theres 2 in either side.....

Mines doing exactly this and that's what it is.

Knocking over bumps and metal rattle on vibration.

Coil spring is easy to check, just jack it up on one side fully and have a look under the arch

 

or the simple thing could be the arb drop links for less than a tenner from ebay

or Ł50 a side from ford

 

springs ok, bushes etc seem fine, still have slight thud on n/s when going over bumps? what i did notice today tho is that the subframe just below the rad, is very twisted, how would this occur and also could this be why its pulling to n/s??? i had the dmf done few months ago and guy who did it didnt say anything? also when driving along i have a rattle noise going from drivers side, like something swinging about? had a look n cant c n e thing? expensive/big top to fix?

 

As above....Sounds like your subframe is out of alignment after the DMF swap. If you look at the rear of the subframe you can see the alignment holes, and the corresponding holes in the floor to align them to. Noise from drivers side, is it a rumbling sound on idle?

 

cheers, so does it not matter that the subframe is twisted? are you just saying out of alignment would cause the pull and the twist is nothing to worry about? when i mentioned to mechanic who did the dmf he said he marked the holes before he removed the subframe then just place back in same place (pull was there before dmf)....does that sound right? the thud only happens on n/s front when going over speeed humps, more of a knock/clunk noise really....

 

Didn't read it properly first time, twisted can't be good!

Possible anti roll bar links causing knocking over speed bumps

 

been to garage and apparently this twisted doesnt really matter as its the alloy bit in the centre and would not cause the pulling, if it was damaged at the sides then yes, but these are both fine, they have agreed to take it in next week to av a further look regarding pulling to left, no promises tho, as they believe it can only be the tracking, which now has been checked 2 times in total.......each time ok...........well puzzled!!!!!

 

on a different note on the same car, how the feck do i get the front arm's rear mount bolt out , its loose and nearly there but there is no where near enough clearance .
to op the twisted doesnt sound good and to be perfectly honest i wouldnt go to a garage that thinks twisted is ok ( no offence if its a family member/friend)
was it twisted standard ...no, i have just looked and surely if its twisted it allows each side of the frame to be ever so slightly off or one higher up than other side,
have you had car from new, maybe accident damage repaired poorly

 

you need to drop the subframe bolts enough to give enough space

if you do one side at a time you don't need to worry about subframe realignment

 

i see i see cheers for that ill get cracking tomo

 

does anyone have any suggestons for my mk3 v6 clunking and feels like something moving. replaced lower gearbox mount. could it be the top gearbox mount causing this.does it in reverse too.feels and sounds from passenger side. would it pass the mot like this so at least i can drive it in to collage and get the mechanics to go over it

 

apparently ford now call them torque restrictors and there are more than one

it may help if you have the bonnet open and someone you trust in the car to get the clutch to the biting point WITH THE HANDBRAKE ON to see if you can see how much the engine is moving

at least you will have a better idea of what may be broken

 

Check you rear drop links ,as ours had gone and the car sounded like it was falling apart