Urgent Please

[sophie09]

Please can you help my new focus 2003 mp3 has a problem.

when driving at 60-70 mph the car seems to wander about the road its worse when cornering its like sitting on a jelly whats wrong?

the car has done 49500 miles passed its mot last week no advisories . I took it to be tracked yesterday it was 14 out not sure what that means the garage also put a new drop link and a suspension joint . The tyre pressure is ok the garage checked them but as soon as you drive the car the tracking goes off the garage tracked it 3 times yesterday whats wrong and where would you guys start looking please.

im scared to drive the car as the wondering is worrying!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your help.

[artscot79]

Please can you help my new focus 2003 mp3 has a problem.

when driving at 60-70 mph the car seems to wander about the road its worse when cornering its like sitting on a jelly whats wrong?

the car has done 49500 miles passed its mot last week no advisories . I took it to be tracked yesterday it was 14 out not sure what that means the garage also put a new drop link and a suspension joint . The tyre pressure is ok the garage checked them but as soon as you drive the car the tracking goes off the garage tracked it 3 times yesterday whats wrong and where would you guys start looking please.

im scared to drive the car as the wondering is worrying!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your help.

did they do a 4 wheel alignment? just tracking the fronts dont work the front and the rear can be adjusted independants dont have a clue about the foci suspension and this is where it pays just to go to ford they will check the rear bushes most garages will pass them but in fact they can be perished around youre mileage best advice is take it to ford they can check the suspension out wandering is usually the rear bushes but not always and the alignment will likely need done properly all 4 wheels as the garage has now made a bad job worse

[sophie09]

it was all 4 wheels but the strange thing is that as soon as the car is driven the tracking goes off again say 1/2 mile the garage done it 3 times but it is still wondering all over the road.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alz]

We had the same thing on a 1999 focus estate, the problem was missed on the mot, it turned out to be the rear suspension link (on the 99 estate it was called FRONT LOWER ARM) it had just a small amount of movement, this made the rear go one way and the front the other, in short, it wandered about just like yours.

this is worth alook, its a cheap part and its only two bolts.

Alz

[sophie09]

mate thanks for that just back from the garage the guy said its the steering rack thats gone he has been out in it and thats what he thinks.

he is a good guy has done a good bit of work on my Gt4 so trust him. is this out of the norm for these items to go at 50k miles ?

[artscot79]

mate thanks for that just back from the garage the guy said its the steering rack thats gone he has been out in it and thats what he thinks.

he is a good guy has done a good bit of work on my Gt4 so trust him. is this out of the norm for these items to go at 50k miles ?

without being rude just trying to save you cash ive heard this all before the rack gets replaced and you have the same issue if yu want to save cash honestly take it to ford they know the setup on these cars better than anyone its not normal for the rack to go at 50k drive into ford tell them youre concerned for safety reasons and they will look at it if they say rack as well then fine the rack would have been noticed when the tracking was done it wiould have to be super loose to keep knocking the tracking out

[ford focus edge]

That sounds more suspension than steering rack to be honest if the wheel is turning with out sounding like ur grinding coal/sounding like the pump is about to explode or just spinning around and the front wheels arent actually moving then id think at a guess that wd be ok.

Get the suspension sorted most local garages usually dont want to go near that and after speaking to a few mechanic mates they hate focus's suspension due to the rear springs being absoutly deadly to remove but anyway back to your issue!

Suspension issues can be had around your car's age and mileage like mines on 53k and thats in need of a pair of rear suspension bushes i think (the top cups actually in the boot part) due to mine "beginning" to wear due to severe cornering.

Take it to a ford main dealer yes it may be more expensive but there properly kitted out for it and more aware to the faults of certain cars.

Im completely grey on this but i really really doubt its the steering rack

[artscot79]

That sounds more suspension than steering rack to be honest if the wheel is turning with out sounding like ur grinding coal/sounding like the pump is about to explode or just spinning around and the front wheels arent actually moving then id think at a guess that wd be ok.

Get the suspension sorted most local garages usually dont want to go near that and after speaking to a few mechanic mates they hate focus's suspension due to the rear springs being absoutly deadly to remove but anyway back to your issue!

Suspension issues can be had around your car's age and mileage like mines on 53k and thats in need of a pair of rear suspension bushes i think (the top cups actually in the boot part) due to mine "beginning" to wear due to severe cornering.

Take it to a ford main dealer yes it may be more expensive but there properly kitted out for it and more aware to the faults of certain cars.

Im completely grey on this but i really really doubt its the steering rack

id advise you get ford to do the rear bushes they did mine after an independant qouted me over 400 quid as the rear bolts were all ceased ford 200 quid they dropped the rear subframe down and replaced that way then did the 4 wheel alignment i supplied the bushes so most of it was labour and the tracking cost certainly better than the independants prices as they wanted to start cutting stuff off as yhou say ford know how to fix them

[ford focus edge]

id advise you get ford to do the rear bushes they did mine after an independant qouted me over 400 quid as the rear bolts were all ceased ford 200 quid they dropped the rear subframe down and replaced that way then did the 4 wheel alignment i supplied the bushes so most of it was labour and the tracking cost certainly better than the independants prices as they wanted to start cutting stuff off as yhou say ford know how to fix them

Chances are i will do nearer the time probs be a few thousand miles yet before they REALLY need doing as for now there fine might get them done with next years service along with a cam belt change but thats for another thread!

Sophie get your poorley mp3 into ford pronto lol

[alz]

I would not go down the rack path, unless you are 100 percent sure that it is the right way to go, it can be a lot of money, on the 99 focus we change the rack for knocking just of centre, it took three racks to put it right two fitted at a local garage (two racks came from auto accessory shops and one was fitted by ford) the cost of the two exchange racks and fitting was nearly £300, this did not fix it, in the end I paid another £600 to ford to replace the rack with a new one, it was top money but well worth it in the end.

If you do decide to have the rack change take it to ford, it will save you money , time and heart ache.

[sophie09]

guys thanks so much for all your help I have an AA breakdown warranty ie the car breaks down its the steering they pay to have it fixed up till

£500 per claim might call them out to check it over thanks

[alz]

here is photo of my car and my sons 99 focus taken this year on holiday the 99 focus is the one that we changed the racks on.

Alz

[alz]

http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjdVu1Ff-Q

if this link works it worth having a look, this is why we changed the racks

Alz

[sophie09]

well guys there is no noise from mine it does feel a little heavy its working but heavier than it should be