Hi all, hope someone can help...

I have a rumbling/knocking sound coming from the front nearside wheel on my mk II focus. It's loudest when going fast, and much louder when turning right. Hardly any noise when turning left. Going round roundabouts, for example, it gets louder as I'm going round, then gets quieter as I turn off. Going in a straight line it's there but not as loud. There is a slight judder associated with it coming through the steering wheel.

When stopped I have had it on full lock going round in circles and again I can hear it when turning right but it's much softer than when I'm travelling at speed. Going over bumps doesn't make it louder.

I can't see anything obviously wrong with the car when I've had a gander but then again I don't have any clue what to look for to diagnose this. I'm guessing CV or similar...?

Any thoughts? Any help would be really appreciated... Thanks in advance.

 

Sounds like wheel bearing.

Jack it up and turn the wheel as fast as you can, if you can feel vibration on the coil spring it will be the bearing at fault.

edit - if it's more of a 'clicking' noise on full lock it could be an outer CV.

 

I'd hoped it wasn't the bearing as it hardly does it at all when steering left. Of course, I could be wrong because I know less than 0 about these things

Will get it up on the jacks tomorrow. If it's the bearing, is that a horrendous job? I'm fairly handy...

 

When you steer left it takes the weight off the left wheel.

Bearing and drive flange needs to be pressed out/in on hydraulic press

 

Makes sense. Thanks a lot, will have a look.

 

That was my nackered bearing!
Also if you grab the wheel at 3o'clock and 9o'clock you should feel a little play.
Then do the same at 12 and 6 O'clock.

 

Noisy bearing won't always have play in it.

 

its a wheel bearing as when you turn the oppesite way the nose gos ,garage job im afraid unless you have a mate with a press to get old and new bearing in

 

I have rung round a few garages locally and the prices are more than what I would pay for a press (130quid) and the bearings (55 quid) and to do it myself! Tempted, until I came across a place selling the bearing and the hub as a single unit for this model (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ford-FOCUS...item1c1f894393).

This would presumably just bolt on as a unit in place of the old hub and save me pressing the new bearings in and out, no?

Thanks guys

 

Id make sure it is a bearing before buying anything. Sounds like it is but could be cv joint.

Id jack the car up and just grab the wheel and see if theres any play there just to eliminate any other problems!

 

No play in the wheel when up on a jack. Not particularly noisy to spin it round either (like the one in the video was). Could still be a bearing? The front discs and pads could do with renewal though, could it be just that?

Tempted to take it to Kwik Fit and get them to stick it on a ramp then just make my excuses and bring it home and do it meself!