Hi,
I have a knocking noise coming from the passenger side front when going over small bumps or rough ground. Garage checked everything and said all was solid, including the droplinks.... that side had a new drop link and 2 new bar bushes last year. They say it is the pads that I can hear knocking around (new ford pads and discs fitted 6 months ago) its not a loud sound but can be heard when going slow over small bumps. Could it really be the pads!
Focus 55 plate 1.6 estate.
cheers

 

dont know about your year, but my mk1 suffered the same problem. i noticed it a week or so before it went in for its MOT, just a slight knocking or rattling. i mentioned this to the MOT station, which they said they'd keep an eye on. the car passed with no problems and everything was done up tight. then it started to get worse and at that point i jacked up the front and found there was a slight movement in the anti roll bar link, but i thought not enough to cause all that noise. however, i ordered replacements through ebay and whacked them on. HEY PRESTO, no noise. they seem to be a week link through the focuses. i was told you really need to change them as a pair, because the other one is not far behind and even though you say its the side you replaced, there could be a theory that the new one is being put under pressure from the old one. they are so cheap on ebay, that you might just as well change them as a pair. even dead easy to fit as well.

 

I'd go for drop links, very common problem, I've seen garages "testing" these with the wheel jacked up so there is even more weight on the link, it's only a nut undo and pop the joint out, see if it is loose, do both sides if one is gone, from memory about £10 each.
tabetha

 

my mk1 had this especially with a bit of left lock.

when i converted to st170 hubs and brakes i discovered the n/s lower arm ball joint was nackered. i could push it in and out by hand (disconnected from the hub). changed both lower arms and sorted.

i'd go round and check all your ball joints, even disconnect them to check.

 

yea i thought that. the originals kept spinning because there was nothing to counteract the ball joint from spinning as well. when the new ones arrived (£9.95per pair, ebay), i thought 'sod this' and cut the ****ers off. 20 mins per side. JOB DONE.

 

Dont make the mistake i did and buy the cheapest you can get, i had 2 drop links arrive and there was no key way in the end of the thread to stop it spinning when doing up the nut or flats to hold it still either. There was no way to do the fuckers up properly

 

i know what you mean, the originals were like that, but when the replacements came, they had an allen head on the end of the threaded ball joint, so dead easy.

 

i had to replace a link on my mk1 (due to it being banana shapped after the smack) and i was about to cut off the bar too untill i realised that there were 2 flats on the ball bit that bolts to the car so you could hold it with a spanner/grips, new el cheapo ones were the same

on a slight hijack, i have a clonking noise from the rear, n/s it passed an mot with it like this, but is very irataing, do the rears have the same issue?

 

getting the same problem, not so much a clonking, but a rattly knocking and its getting quite harsh on the bumps as well, like you got solid rubber tyres on the back.

the arb links are so cheap that its worth changing because i reckon will be on the way out. just seems that once one component starts working properly it seems to highlight other problems.

 

Hi All

I'm having the same problem on a Mk2 2005 Focus I've picked up recently.

Just an irritating knocking noise at low speeds on the RHS of the car, can't tell whether it's coming from front or back which is annoying but i'm inclined to say front.

Can someone point me towards this part on eBay that you refer to? I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to car repairs!

Thanks!

 

ebay item number: 290384323937.

one thing you MUST make sure of though, is that there is either a key end in the threaded part or a flat piece that can hold the ball joint still while the lock nut is being tightened, else you havnt got a chance. just a simple email to the supplier will do.

thinking about it, i think i got mine from this seller and they DID have an allen key end that makes it easy.

dont be scared to have a go yourself, they are dead simple and will save yourself the £200-300 that a garage will charge you to fit them.

 

hi ive replaced the drop links and anti roll bar and i can still hear knocking??
do you reckon it could be steering rack mounts?

 

Try the track rods! I have slight steering vibrations and a knocking over bumps. Garage told me it was the track rod ends... changed them both and found abit of play in the inner track rod Hopefully will change mine soon.

 

hmm. maybe.. im gonna get underneath and see if i can spot anything obvious

 

Jack the front of the car up.
Grab the wheels at 3 and 9 O'clock positions and shake. If theres play then you need new track rods/track rod ends.
Grab the wheel at 12 and 6 O'clock positions and shake. If theres any play then look at ball joints and wishbone bushes.
Grab both struts and shake for play (theres mounts/bearings at the top of them).
It might also be the anti roll bar bushes, you can generally visually check the condition of these

 

Hi
If you have tried the obvious places for the light knocking noise and still cannot find it try this... look at the battery box or fuse box cover under the bonnet, as my covers were on properly but still knocked going over small bumps, try looking at the base of the spring in the suspension, I also has a small broken piece that would make a noise and go when wet and return when dry! thus causing the knocking sound over small bumps and try spraying some silicone spray oil over the moving parts of the suspension (not the breaks) as the road salt can dry out some rubbers/components..all these were problems that I had over the years that took ages to detect despite mechanics looking at them and fixed the problems...

 

i had new front pads fitted at last mot..and that's when the noise started ...rattle going over rough road and over bumps...also knocking when breaking..to stop ..not just slowing down...took it back to garage ..they said all was fine...just pads moving about in discs...six months later the coil spring broke...now I'm wondering if that was what was causing the knocking....

 

help on my 05 focus im getting a banging on both front sides its like a biuncing banging ive changed shocks put new stick ones in but its lowered 40mm to all bushes n joints mint but cant find problem could it be nuckels on drive shaft bouncing out or not please help its just over humps n pot holes