Hi guys I have a 57 1.8 Tdci focus. I went round a roundabout last week and soon as the car straightened up there was this like knocking kind of noise. I’m pretty sure it’s not the bearings only way I can describe it is it’s like I’ve got a flat spot on one of the tyres and it gets worse when the car leans on the left hand side and sort of goes away when I’m leaning on the right. I’ve checked all wheels nuts and wheels which there all moving nice and smooth so I’m a bit lost. The noise isn’t loud but you can just about hear it and I’m sure I can feel the knocking in my feet from pressing the peddles. Does anyone no what it could be or anyone had this happen to them ? I’ve just put 2 new wish bones on front tracking is 100% so I kinda lost but I’ve had bearing goes on me before and like I say I’m pretty sure it isn’t that. The noise starts from about 20mph please help guys thanks. 

I'd knocking on the front before. Turned out a bolt had sheered off when I went over a pothole at speed, letting the arm bend and warp, creating a knocking from the wheel when it was dealing with bumps.   I'd say the roundabout shows the symptom but might not be the cause. The car could probably do with being lifted and looked at properly.

I’m gonna try and have a good look Saturday see if I can find out what it is, thanks buddy. 

Anyone else have a clue about what it could be ?

Potentially CV joint.  Having a better look will be more useful than our guesses in cases like this though.

If it is at the rear of the car, could it be the casting that attaches the rear damper to the bodywork? Had to change both of them on the 2006 Focus I had, they made a right racket when the castings broke.

I’m not sure. I’m gonna jack the car up today and have a good look under the car. Hopefully I’ll find the issue, i will let u guys know the out come 👍

I’ve looked all over the car and I can not find anything apart from front left wheel isn’t as free as the other 3 wheels so maybe it’s the bearing so I’m just gonna put 2 new bearings in the front. I’m just looking on buying a hydraulic press now and I’ll get it done and fingers crossed the issue goes away. Just ordered them plus and a new 15-ton press puller soon as they come I’ll crack on with it and I’ll post the out come. I just hope it is the bearings otherwise I’ll change the rear ones aswell plus whatever moving parts I need to as the noise as seemed to speed up and is getting louder ☹️☹️☹️

A Focus MK2 has GEN2 front wheel hubs on which the bearing is an integral part of the hub.

A Ford specific GEN2 toolki is required to change GEN2 hubs. Other car manufacturers use the same GEN2 design but the hub dimensions are different. Commercially available Ford specific GEN2 tool kits do usually use a threaded rod to remove and install the hub into the carrier. A hydraulic press is not required.

When you looked at it did you give the top of the rear damper a good shake to see if there was any movement that would indicate if the casting was broken?

So I never got round to doing the hubs. Yh there’s no play in the shocks. Just sounds like it’s under my feet when driving. I can feel it in my feet on the peddles but not on the steering wheel. I went up to 79mph and the noise was really loud but again when the car leans on the right it nearly goes away but gets a bit louder in the left side when leaning on that side. I’m so lost with it as it’s driving me mad as I use the car to get to work and I’d be lost without it. Got someone to look at it tomorrow and get it on the lift and fingers crossed start it and run it on the lift and mite find out what it is. It’s defo a moving part but which one ???????

I had a weird issue similar to this a few years ago.  Turned out some stick on wheel weights were hanging off.  Driving in a straight line the centripetal force held them in place, but as soon as there was any sideways force they swung to the side and created an unbalanced wheel feeling.  I've only seen that once in more than a decade so probably unlikely, but definitely worth checking none are loose or missing.

Yeah it’s sort of like that mate. It’s like I’m driving on a flat spot but does get faster. I did look at the weights on all the wheels and all look good. It’s going on a loft tomorrow so fingers crossed I’ll find the problem. 

So guys after all the messing about and wondering what it was I took a gamble and got a new front left hub and new bearing fitting it with a press as you do and what do you no it was the front left bearing. Got there in the end now as it’s a 57 plate with 123000+ miles I’m just gonna do the other 3 wheels than I no the car is sweet. Now my back left shock as gone as I pulled away the other day and span the wheels and there was a massive loud bang which sounded like it was coming from under the back seats so I’m guessing it’s the shock so that’s in the to do list but it could also be the mount for engine or gearbox so I’m gonna do them aswell. The engine is good still got 8 months m.o.t left and it’s a good car so it won’t cost a lot just to change the other bushies but Yh right now she’s good just gotta find the time to do the other parts but the shock is next on my list as i think the bang came from there…..