I've noticed there's a bit of 'creaking' going on especially when going over speed bumps.

After a quick search on Google, it points to the suspension bushes as the culprit.

How can I confirm that myself and which ones? It sounds like the noise is coming from the front but I'm not sure.

Thanks very much.

Easiest check is to see if any were advised on the last MOT.

If not, you'll have to jack up and support the car.  Then get a large pry bar in around every bush to look for movement and listen for a creak.

If you find a creaky one, you can spray it with a bit of lubrication and see if it's any quieter on the next drive.

if your spanner handy swap them out

Thanks very much.

I hope to jack up the car in a couple of week's time when I should be collecting a trolley jack, axel stands and even ramps form my parent's house since my dad no longer be needs them.

I checked the advisory of my last MOT in December and must say, between the years it's been inconsistent apart from the tyres. I always get an advisory on the tyres:

• slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d)

The previous MOT I got: that too but along with:

• ...Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
• ...Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

So the latest MOT didn't say anything about the legal limit or corrosion. Do you think that's down to the mechanics personal opinion?

Just to clarify, I only do a few thousand miles a year but I'm hoping to replace all the tyres next week.

If the coils needs replacing then I assume you might as well do the bushes too? If so, is it possible to replace the coils myself or do you need special tools?

 

For the 10 years I've had this car and about just 25000 miles later, I've really not had to do anything to the car apart from something to do with an anti-roll bar linkage fracture.

I fear that things will starting to go, not necessarily because of using it but simply age e.g. corrosion. I've done the servicing but it's been ad-hoc so it looks like I'll have to spend a bit now:

1. 4x tyres.
2. Timing belt & water pump replaced.
3. Full service.
4. Replacement of coil springs and bushes.

This will mount up I'm sure. Is it better to start looking for a new second-hand vehicle since this Focus is 2005. It's done 100,000 now but has never let me down and the engine sounds fine.

Thanks again.

Bushes aren't really part of the same job as coil springs, it doesn't save any time to do both together.  (Except the jacking & supporting tbf.)

If you've only just noticed the creaking, you may find that one of the corroded front springs has snapped now.  Or you may find the rubber top mount above the coil is worn out.  It is worth replacing top mounts and bearings at the same time as coil springs on the fronts.

Rear setup is slightly different but again, changing bushes isn't any easier at the same time.

There are multiple bushes at the front that can creak, two on each wishbone, two on the anti-rollbar, 4 on the subframe.  So really do need to work out which ones need replacing rather than just replacing all of them.  Each one varies in difficulty and tools needed as well. 

Rear setup is different and there are many bushes on the independent rear suspension (control blades) which is what gives the Focus it's handling, but also means a lot of work to change all the bushes when they wear out.

MOT advisories are entirely down to testers discretion, some will advise more than others.  Tyre advisories are common as many MOT garages also sell tyres...

The main special tool to do front springs is a spring compressor.  I absolutely hate them as they always feel dangerous and takes a lot of effort for a weakling like myself.  There are some very basic ones that get wound using a standard socket or spanner.  Or there are now hydraulic ones which make the job easier, but cost more to buy.  If you search Youtube for videos on compressing coil springs then you can decide whether it's a risk you feel comfortable with or one you'd rather leave to the professionals.  If you have a friendly local garage, they may swap the springs over for a small amount of cash if you remove the shock & spring assembly from the car first.  I've done that quite a few times to remove some of the peril of spring compressing!

you may need access to a hydraulic press to get bushes in and out or make a puller from threaded bar nuts and washers

Again, thank you very much for taking the time to explain this, I really appreciate this.

It looks like I'm really going to have to budget now. I think finding out what needs to be done (that the eye can see) is down to trust. It would be nice if I could take it to a garage and pay them  to inspect everything and tell me what needs replacing so I can add it up and decide if the car is worth it, but they might just see pound signs and take advantage.

I'll need to get the timing belt and water pump done so that's already several hundred pounds, tyres over £200. It would be nice to know just how much I would actually save if I replaced all the coils and the bushes by myself (if possible) instead of a garage.

Got a feeling the total will be about £1000. Then again, how much does it cost to buy a decent car that you can be reasonably sure things won't snap or fall off?!

I've got rust at the bottom of a wing and an ugly dent in a quarter panel that I found one morning coming out my house but at least they're cosmetic, for now.

Eager to get the trolley jack + from my folks to see the damage myself. It's all ineviatable I suppose and I've just been very lucky for the last 10 years.

I will look up those tools and see how it's done. I think I already saw an MK1 enthusiast using some press on YouTube.

Thanks again.