hi guys, i own a 98 plate focus, 2.0 zetec. last week i had a strange noise start when braking, but after further listening (it's gotten louder now) it seems to be coming from the left rear wheel arch. i don't know too much about cars but i'm able to move the wheel when parked (with handbrake on) left towards the front, not in a rotation motion, but <---- got under it today and i can see there is a arm / bar moving slightly from behind the wheel, i have attached pictures to show better. i'm guessing the noise is this moving back and forth? also how much would this cost to be repaired? any help / ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Sorry 02 plate

Looks like a bushing? although I cant quite see it clearly on a small screen lol.

The picture is of a control blade bush, part of your rear suspension. If the bush needs to be replaced I think all 3 suspension arms will have to be unfastened from the rear crossmember and hub carrier .Unfasten the strut and disconnect the ABS censor wire to release the hub carrier assembly/control blade. So there is plenty of work to get stuck into. I hope this has put you off doing it yourself :)unless you are up for the challenge of cutting the 3 suspension arm bushes out if you are unlucky.

Cheers, not really comfortable with doing work myself if I'm honest haha. Any idea how much this will cost to fix at a garage? A few round by work so be nice to know what I'm aiming for

Cost is a difficult one ,i don t want to scare you .Take it to some good independent garages and get a couple of quotes ,that s my advice .Good luck.

Cheers william. Looks like the Christmas fund will need dipping into this week then :)

300 to 500 to get all control blade arms and bushes replaced the stste of them and the fixing bolts ide say its unlikely youll get them out they are ceased at the best of times its worth noting that area needs waxoil and underseal on it or it will soon become an mot failure the rust is almost eating through some parts from the pictures

Jesus pricey one then. Could I get away with replacing just the one I've got problems with? Mot is up in feb. Might actually save for another car considering I paid £800 for this and have already spent £100 getting a brake caliper done

nah you need to do both its gauranteed both need to be done its highly unlikely youll get it all apart as ford didnt grease these partrs when building so they are usually ceased the bushes themself are cheap however i know for a fact if you try to push bushes into the arms they get even just a little bent and then you get handling issues back end skipping is a classic sign its not a cheap job to get a garage to do as they are well aware it takes time youll also need a 4 wheel alignment done when they are fitted as well

Ah right cheers for the info Arthur.

you can buy a kit like this ide ask a garge how much if you supply the parts this way it doesnt matter if they have to cut bolts as the whole lot will get done http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCUS-MK1-REAR-WISHBONES-TRAILING-ARMS-LINKS-BUSHES-FULL-KIT-/121027963547?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3AFocus&hash=item1c2dd42a9b

Yeh was thinking along those lines. Will go in tomorrow during work and ask the garage across the way. Cheers for the link!

Got quoted today. 2 new trailing arms with bushings, fitted £125. Booked in for Friday morning

So you re not replacing the bushes, in the photos you posted?

Yes they are being replaced