Colin_P

As most know there have been some fatal crashes over the last few days involving Focus's seemingly leaving the road for no reason.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...s-tragedy.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...y-wedding.html

I'm sure there is another but I cannot find a link to it.

Wondering what peoples thoughts are on this?

We've got, Wife drives it, a 1999 MK1 Focus. I had to replace the steering rack on it not long after we got it due to there being a 'flat' spot to the steering.

Initially I didn't suspect the rack and did the wishbones and track rods ends without curing and then replaced the rack. I did this (diy'd it) early in 2010 and the car has been spot on since. An expensive job in a garage as the front subframe has to be dropped.

At the time having done a bit of research it seems that this is not an uncommon problem with them.

Utube links below are not mine but this is what our car did. On the road there was a flat area where it felt there was no steering, probably over about 10 degrees of steering wheel rotation.




Our car had a fresh MOT on it and had this issue when we bought it (got it cheap). Anyone know if this should be picked up on the MOT?

I have a horrible feeling that this seemingly fairly common problem could have contributed to these crashes.

Any thoughts Gents, any of you who run garages experienced or come across this on Focus's ?

Brendan

iTrader: (1)

can you get a mirror to see what is happening at the front wheels when it does this?

Colin_P

No, didn't get that far with it on our car.

As I'd done the wishbones etc it only left the rack so I changed it, could leave it as it was.

Also I did this almost three years ago but these recent crashes got me thinking.

STeve

iTrader: (11)

just a coincidence I have a had a few focus models and none had any steering related faults its simply one of those things and I think maintainance is key with any car

costina

iTrader: (1)

Interesting thread did you keep the rack and look inside it?

Please if anyone has any more info on this problem i think it would help us all

Safety first

Colin_P

I'm not so sure.

We had this issue with our car and, at the time, as now searching online reveals it to be quite common.

I've had loads of cars over my 26 years on the road and have never ever had an issue like this prior to that on the Mrs current Focus.

Have had track rods, rod ends, fail even a hydraulic failure on a rack once but never this flat spot issue.

I don't think there is anything to maintain other than keeping the fluid topped up on PAS system, unless of course get get a split gaitor.

Colin_P

No sadly, I had this issue almost three years ago but it has been these crashes that got me thinking.

STeve

iTrader: (11)

there's a whole lot more to maintenance that any decent garage will pick up on rather than just fluids, yes both cars were focus models in the news but were not exactly new, as there's been no serious reports of these types of things on focus based forums so although sad I do put it down to coincidence

tonysierra4x4

coincidence only. i remember a while back in my area several serious accidents, with luckily only one fatality. all renault clio's. it isn't the cars imo, and unfortunately in the majority of cases, it is driver error.

costina

iTrader: (1)

The crash on christmas day was on a straight stretch of road could have been anything falling asleep blowout who knows.

STeve

iTrader: (11)

exactly, lets wait and see what the police investigation brings because if its due to driver error or driving in heavy rain with a dud tyre etc it blows this conspiracy theory right out of the water,

jamie's

sad but true, prob just coincidence realy,
i remember about 10 years ago that my mother wouldn't buy a red car
because according to statistics they were more likely to be involved in an accident
now its either silver is most likely but theres now more silver cars than any other
so chances are thats why there are more getting crashed
but it just shows how you can twist things in your mind to show why things happen

Twizz

We're on our third rack, have a MK1 99 Focus - first one started giving us a notch when we were at 0 degrees, so we changed loads of parts (steering column, various arms) until we replaced the rack and it cured it...

...all for about a year, then the steering began to go hard (as if the engine was off = no power steering - no notch though) so we replaced the pump for a genuine ford one, but to our dismay it turned out to be the rack (was told the high pressure pipes can sometimes give up on these but went for another rack.

This third one has JUST begun to develop a very slight notch.

phil_focus

Purely coincidence. There's no mention of vehicle age in the first link (though clearly a mk1 in the second link), no mention of vehicle condition, tyres, driver health problems, road is clearly wet in both incidences. Theres so many focus's on the road there's probably one crashed every day of the year in this country if not more.

Could have even swerved to avoid something, who knows.

Regarding the steering issue on the mk1, mine had this and I replaced it with a second hand unit and never had any problems. I have to say you (OP) are just being paranoid and winding yourself up, you're not about to have a crash!

Rsmat

iTrader: (2)

I thrash my mk1 focus Rs and have had no dramas and drove plenty of others .!

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

The wifes is ok.Thats got nearly 100k on it now.

Sinbad

iTrader: (1)

Wasn't there 2 on the M6 at the same spot though which might point more to the road than car ?????

Still very sad for the families who have lost loved ones

mattxr3i

Same behaviour could be applied to brake pads, maintenance won't stop them wearing out but should be checked at least at every service, so I think you are just being paranoid

Colin_P

Not at all worried as the car is very well sorted.

Just put my thoughts out there for discussion.

This thread has only been live for about an hour and as well as my experience and yours of this issue there is another, who is on his 3rd rack.

As said, it is probably just coincidence as there are so many Focus's on the road that they are bound to be involved in more accidents.

I think it is worth discussing.

I've been driving for years and years, must getting near 1,000,000 miles now in countless cars and vans and have ever had an issue like this one before so can understand every ones skepticism.

Daveysaff

iTrader: (9)

My Dads old focus had a rack issue, but it did have 280k on it!!

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

280k wow.Any pics of it.

A lot of cars get wear in racks.

Rob Virgo

iTrader: (6)

Sounds like a dry sticking uj or flexing of the bulkhead

220tel

mines got 152k on it and not had a rack as far as i know
and definitely not in the last 6 years
my dad has a mk1 my mother in law and my nephew and none of those have had racks either while they have had them

dojj

iTrader: (3)

on the mk3 mondeos this is a known fault

but it's nothing to do with the rack, it's the bolt that secures the rack to the intermidiate shaft that works loose and gives you some slop in the steering

it's almost aways diagnosed as the rack and when you change the rack you change the bolt and job jobbed and you think you've won

Daveysaff

iTrader: (9)

No pics, w reg 2.0 petrol saloon in black. Got absolutley battered all its life and never died! He managed a motor factors and it was the company car, so no expense was ever spared on it.
Was a bit like triggers broom at the end!!

The Youth.

iTrader: (1)

You can bet your house that in the crash on the M6 the children were not wearing seat belts, I will happily be proved wrong but I bet i'm not..

steve

STeve

iTrader: (11)

even if the focus had a notchy rack on a straight road its hardly going to cause a car to flip, more something you would note when turning or parking usually, I remember getting that clunk on escorts and nearly always ended up in a broken spring etc

cossiestu

The accident on the A47 happened on a straight section of road.
It's about the 8th death in 5 years, all within half a mile.

STAFFY OWNER

Got 3 Focuses in my family and none have any steering rack issues nor have they ever. My mrs has had her 02 reg 1.6 Zetec for about 8-9 years and it drives lovely with no steering related problems.

MikeyRobbo

Bought an ex taxi focus a year or 2 back with 300k on it, steering would 'lock' at a certain point until you yanked it back out, rack change sorted it.

The Crocodile Hunter

We have a 2001 1.6 zetec, had it for almost 4 years now its on 208k miles and never had any steering rack probs?? In fact it still drives lovely

Iain Mac

We've had Mk1-3 Focuses (Foci?)and never had any bother with any of them.

We got the Mk1 at 23months old and kept it till it was almost 9 years old and it remains the best of the three to drive.

Got the Mk2 new and kept if for 2 years with no issues but moved it on because we just didn't like it very much -it felt and looked cheap inside - all hard plastic and daft bits stuck to the seats.

Got the Mk3 new in September 11 and it has done 13k faultless miles.

Cossie Sean

i have had one, black 2.0 ghia saloon presented to me with "locking" rack, pas pump doing its bollocks when it "locked" only turning right,
as above, replaced rack and problem cured

foci

How many foci have been sold? It was car of the year 4 years running.

For a tiny percentage of them to have wear on a steering component is inevitable

Cossie Sean

alright focus boy lol,

not slagging the focus here!

either way it is 100% driver error, either poor maintenance/checking/servicing or they fell asleep etc

peace xxx

IanC

Good shout that pal my frs has got this ill check that tomorra mite save me swapping the rack

BM08

"You know Dave, ive had the same broom for 25years"

"no way trig?"

"yeah but ive changed the head 8 times"


gotta love trigger

STeve

iTrader: (11)

dont forget the medal from councilor murray

Lee-87

Picked up my 53plate 1.8 Zetec face lift for £1000 ,for 5 months now , full s/h etc 145k on the clock .... Apart from having to replace tyres , service it and change a leaking thermostat housing it Drives sweet as a nut , still on the original rack to !

Coincidence I'd say

Sinbad

iTrader: (1)

Surely that must point to the road Stu ??????