R5 COT

A mates focus has an annoying rattle through the steering wheel, its annoying him more than anything!! if he turn the steering wheel left to right with or without the engine on he gets this knock. changed all sorts arb links, track rod ends etc checked the column but cant find anything!! just wondering if anyone else has had it and managed to sort it!!

Many thanks!!

airzfocus

Do u mean if u slightly turn it from left to right or wiggle the steering with the engine of then yeah mine makes the same noise and its a 99plate!

smokiedee

same here 99 as well

GVK.

Make sure the pedal box is tight (13mm nuts)

Another trick was to loosen the pedal box, put some grease between it and the bulkhead and re-tighten the pedal box, it works..... try it!

GVK -ex Ford senior tech.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Both my focus's have knocked a little when wiggling the steering.

Pedal boxes can also creak against the bulkhead, take it to ford and they will tell you it needs replacing, but as gvk says, slacken off the nuts, pack grease behind it and retighten.

I did write a how to on the ffoc forum before it became yet another money grabbing site, so unfortunately I have no access to it now

Archibald

Hi. My first post here
I have similar problem, but it’s not a knocking noise. When wheels are straight and I try to turn the steering wheel to the left there is a higher resistance on the wheel, then a dull knock and everything backs to normal. It won’t do it in any other position, just when wheels are straight. There are no knocks or leacks from the system, fluid was replaced with Ford one and level is ok.
I’ve suspected suspension but it looks like it’s coming from the steering rack.
What about the pedal plate? Do you have any photos or at least a hint how to fix it?
I will also check a steering column connections but don’t think that’s a problem.
It’ bit odd and I want to investigate it before replacing the steering rack.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Fezsi

https://passionford.com/forum/techni...ing-wheel.html

Could this help?! or even could someone help me? lol

Archibald

There’s no vibration or play in steering system, just this “click” when turning steering wheel left. That’s why it doesn’t look like a steering rack problem, but might be something inside it that’s holding it in this position. But what?

Colin_P

Any updates on this?

I've got a 1999 as well as I've got what I'd describe as a dead spot when turning the wheel from straight ahead to the left for may 5 degrees of steering wheel movement whilst the engine /PAS is working.

With the engine off I don't get the dead spot (but it is hard to turn anyway so hard to tell) but do get a clonk.

I've just changed all of the lower suspension parts to eliminate them first which included the lower arms/wishbones, trackrod ends and anti roll bar drop links.

I'm convinced it is the rack itself. Anyone actually fixed this ?

JKDS

I know this is a old post but I've got exactly the same problem on my mk1 rs focus. When my steering is straight driving along, there's a tight spot and a click/knock when I slightly try to turn right. Its fine left. Almost as though it won't turn but a little bit more force and it will click and turn as normal

This also disappears once I've been driving for 5 minutes or so. Only there when I first drive the car

Anyone get to the bottom of this?

GVK.

pedal box as above.

Colin_P

Just to feedback on what this was for me, it was the steering rack.

I changed all of the front suspension components, did the pedal box thing and it was still there.

Changed the rack and it solved it.

Quite a fiddle to do as the subframe has to be dropped down which the rack is bolted to.