Front Suspension Issue 07 Ford Focus tdci

muddle84

I've noticed since I did the brakes in my car that when I stop a start reversing into a parking spot and I touch the brakes to stop (only moving slowly) there is a tap or a clunk coming from the front. Lately too when I am braking at speed the steering wheel will vibrate for a few seconds and then stop( the stop does not coincide with letting off the brake) .

I am convinced this relates to a bushing in the front. Any thoughts people or experience with this? I checked on micksgarage and there is control arm mounting bush and wishbone bushings available. Any idea how do I find out which one is gone?

biko

It sounds like the pads aren't right?
Are you sure they move freely?

You could try bedding the pads or even take them off and make sure sure everything is lubed up right.

muddle84

What do you mean by bedding the pads? I did put copper grease on the rails that the pad slides along and I'm sure that they were moving freely when I reassembled them.

But now that you mention it, I had to change the starter last week and when I was under there, I noticed that the inside of both front discs didn't look as clean/shiny as the outside.

Wheelnut

I agree with Biko.

If the problem started after you did the brakes, the logical place to look is the brakes and not the suspension. I don't know what type of brakes are on that car but it's most likely that something is not seated right.

muddle84

There is a single piston caliper on each wheel. So would you suggest taking the pads off again and check how they are wearing? And if they are still freely moving in the rails?

dodzy

muddle84 wrote: »

There is a single piston caliper on each wheel. So would you suggest taking the pads off again and check how they are wearing? And if they are still freely moving in the rails?

Precisely what I would do anyway.

muddle84

So just to close this out. The car started showing symptons of a warped disc( which was the very reason I changed the front dics in the first place). So I stripped the front calipers again and I could find wrong was that there was dirt between the Disc & the hub. This seemed to be preventing the disc sitting properly against the face of the hub which I think was causing the wobble. As for the knock/tap/clunk. There is a bit of rotational play on the disc when placed over the studs, I think the dirt was stopping the disc mating with the hub.
Once i cleaned everything with wire brush and air gun and put it back together its all working so much better. The knock is now also gone!!!

Thanks everyone for all your help!

muddle84

So the knick/klunk re appeared last week and my original fears were confirmed!!! I failed my NCT today on the wishbone bushes in the front!
So from google I can see that there is two bushes in the front wishbones.

Do I need to change both? And how hard are they to change???

Do I need to take the wishbone off to change these???

martyc5674

Usually easier to replace wishbone.
Get tracking done soon after
Marty.

muddle84

martyc5674 wrote: »

Usually easier to replace wishbone.
Get tracking done soon after
Marty.

it may be easier but new wishbones are coming in at €120 each whereas the bushings are less than € 10. so new wishbones are not gonna happen!!!
thanks though. the nct guy did day to get the tracking done before the re test too!!

Stoolbend

Its usually only the rearmost bush that fails. But for the sake of a few quid while the wishbones are out and the tracking is getting done its worth changing both.

The bush costs a good bit more than €10 too.

muddle84

Stoolbend wrote: »

Its usually only the rearmost bush that fails. But for the sake of a few quid while the wishbones are out and the tracking is getting done its worth changing both.

The bush costs a good bit more than €10 too.

According to Micks Garage(see the link below) one of the bushes is only €7.38 and the other is €12.18.

http://www.micksgarage.com/search.aspx?fffDepartment=Wishbone%20Bushes

Are these the right bushes? When you say rearmost, is this whats referred to as inner in the link??

Stoolbend

In the description it normally gives the fitting position. I didn't open the link but I presume you're looking at the same bush in 2 different makes. What you'll more than likely need is the bush that takes 2 bolts and will cost between €40 and €50.

muddle84

Stoolbend wrote: »

In the description it normally gives the fitting position. I didn't open the link but I presume you're looking at the same bush in 2 different makes. What you'll more than likely need is the bush that takes 2 bolts and will cost between €40 and €50.

Ah I see now. There is one further down the list that is €42 and fits your description. Still alot cheaper than a new wishbone! Considering this is bolt on, this should make replacing it alot easier?

Stoolbend

Its still pressed onto the wishbone.

muddle84

Then what are the bolts for?

Stoolbend

To bolt the wishbone to the car.

Bpmull

Stoolbend wrote: »

In the description it normally gives the fitting position. I didn't open the link but I presume you're looking at the same bush in 2 different makes. What you'll more than likely need is the bush that takes 2 bolts and will cost between €40 and €50.

I had replace the ones which your describing on my 07 focus last year. My mechanic was saying there a very common part to replace on them focuses he's constantly doing them they seem to wear easy that and track rods. My car had a clunking noise but after I got suspension work done it stopped and is now quite I think it was them bushes that was causing the noise although I had to replace a fair few suspension parts as there was play in a few different parts front and back.

muddle84

Stoolbend wrote: »

To bolt the wishbone to the car.

I'm confused now. Please take a look at the attached image. This looks to have a collar around it that bolts to the wishbone? Is this the case or is this the wrong bush??
Have you changed these before? Surely I don't need a press to attach this bush?