Mod Suspension

[sam88]

Hi All,

im new to the ford owners club and owning a ford aswel, i recently brought a ford focus zetec 1.8 2001 model, its got a few mods on it and recently started a knocking noise ect, got it checked out and and long story cut short they said part the problem is the rear shock is knackered, recon it will be better to take off the mod full adjustable coil springs and put standard ones back on, but as thats pretty exspencive im wondering can i just put a standard shock on with the mod spings ect,

thanks in advance

[SeanW]

Just to clarify:

Your car is lowered and you have a rear shock that needs replacing?

Personally, I'd look at replacing the rear shocks (do both - safer) with the ones appropriate for your suspension setup. For a temporary solution, adjust the setup to standard ride height.

If you want to put standard shocks on, then replace for standard springs as well - front and rear.

If one shock has gone, then chances are the others are all likely to be going - think about the front - those shocks have to take the weight of the engine and take the cornering forces too.

Stand in each corner and give the car a good push downwards and watch the recoil. It should stop very quickly. Also listen for any odd noises.

[sam88]

hiya pal,

yeah thats right the rear shock need replacing and yes its been lowered by the modified coil springs,, already on there when i brought it so not sure the make of the kit to see if i can get a replacement part or the correct shock for it, i was hoping to put a standard focus shock on it and hopefully it fits, as changing all 4 wheels back to standard is abit pricey, and yes i plan to raise the car slightly as its to low. bottoms out and is damaging the top suspension mount.

thanks for the responce on this matter tho as im stuck with the sulution :/

[troy45]

Whatever you end up doing you should have a matched set front and rear - unless you're going for a proven combination that works ok, though you'll only be able to get (un)informed opinions on that.

Not sure if you mean it's got a standard damper on the rear and a lowering spring or full coil-over unit etc but if 1 damper is gone you should really replace the pair, otherwise you're risking driving with an imbalance at the rear of 1 good damper and one that's probably also on it's last legs.

If the rear springs are a much harder rate than the original ones they may overwork the standard dampers, and if you've currently got combined spring/damper units on the rear, then the uprated springs may not fit properly if you go to standard dampers and try to relocate them onto the original position in between lower arm and subframe.

Do you know the manufacturer and type of kit your car has fitted?

[sam88]

Hi troy

thanks for coming back with an answer as still confused with best route to take, I know you should do a change in pairs so shall be doing that but as a temp fix i was hoping to put standard shock with the mod, to get me out of trouble for now, got it checked out at a garage as started making clonking noises and grinding when i turn sometimes. now i have a small list of issues with it:

-N/S/R shock absorber leaking

- N/S/F top suspension mount worn

-N/S/F bottom ball joint rubber split

-N/S/F outer driveshaft gaitor weeping

and no i don't know the manufacturer and type of kit on it atmo which is making it harder to figure out the problem with it, can you tell or does it have written on there anywhere to suggest?

[troy45]

Wouldn't know off-hand where there would be info on the dampers etc saying who made them but maybe posting up a few photos will help someone recognise what they are. You'll be able to ask much more specific questions then about using rear springs with standard dampers and so on.

Hopefully you can get better information before having to have all the jobs fixed - much better to have all the work done in 1 go especially as some will need the shocks removing anyhow.

As a very rough guess I'd say the front top mount will be contributing to the steering clunk, and also if the leaking driveshaft gaiter has let the CV joint run dry. But really all the stuff on your list needs sorting, don't just go off the items I've mentioned there.

[sam88]

yeah might have to post a few pics when pos, anythings worth ago, took it to a garage to inspect it and cost 20 but been told to take it to some other garrages to see if anyone else can help resolve the answer to it but again, each time is about 20 quid at this rate be better to just pay the labour rate for some work to actually be done, but without info on the kit itself its a costly issue i need to do i ges, spoke to the garage i took it to first and they recon aswel changing both shocks in pairs standard shocks should be fine but it means raising the car up to standard height due to standard shock will be longer than what i have now,, and cant seem to find any answer to that, don,t suppose you know what that would be?