Rattle on Focus 1.6 Zetec (1999)

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Chris H - 25 Jan 2004 23:17 GMT

On uneven roads, I get quite a loud knocking rattle from my Focus. It's
quite hard to pin-point where the noise is coming from, but its not within
the cabin or boot space. Having crawled under the car, I can't find any
obvious loose rattley parts! The exhaust was replaced recently (due to
corrosion), and the rattle is still there, eliminating the exhaust system as
the culprit. I have also noticed that the rattle seems worse when turning
right at junctions. If anyone has any ideas of what might be causing the
problem, and maybe a possible solution, I would be grateful to hear from
you.

Regards,

Chris Howard

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Grafy - 26 Jan 2004 14:20 GMT

I have simmilar problems - a knock usualy occours when turning right at
bigger angles and i hear rattling from the front on uneven terrain especialy
noticable when the car is still not warmed up?!

Any ideas?

Focus TDDI (2000)

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Paul Giverin - 26 Jan 2004 19:20 GMT

>On uneven roads, I get quite a loud knocking rattle from my Focus. It's
>quite hard to pin-point where the noise is coming from, but its not within
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>problem, and maybe a possible solution, I would be grateful to hear from
>you.

Sounds like one or both of the front anti-roll bar link rods. Are you
getting the noise particularly at low speed?

The rods cost about £35 each and are fairly easy to fit. The replacement
rods are higher quality than the originals.

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Paul Giverin
British Jet Engine Website http://www.britjet.co.uk

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Chris H - 26 Jan 2004 20:46 GMT

Thaks for the advice, I'll check the anti-roll bars out at the weekend. My
Haynes manual has a section on 'Front crossmember/anti-roll bar links -
removal and refitting.' Will it be obvious by looking at them if its the
anti-roll bar link rods that are the culprit, i.e. will I be able to rattle
them by hand?

Chris H.

> >On uneven roads, I get quite a loud knocking rattle from my Focus. It's
> >quite hard to pin-point where the noise is coming from, but its not within
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> The rods cost about ?35 each and are fairly easy to fit. The replacement
> rods are higher quality than the originals.

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Paul Giverin - 26 Jan 2004 21:44 GMT

>Thaks for the advice, I'll check the anti-roll bars out at the weekend. My
>Haynes manual has a section on 'Front crossmember/anti-roll bar links -
>removal and refitting.' Will it be obvious by looking at them if its the
>anti-roll bar link rods that are the culprit, i.e. will I be able to rattle
>them by hand?

I'm afraid its very difficult to feel any play in them while they are
fitted because the suspension has to be in the position where there is
no loading on the links.

When you remove them you can then feel some wear but you wouldn't think
that such a small amount of play could create such a noise.

Have a look at the rods which are fitted. If the are plain steel rods
like the picture in the Haynes manual (illustration 6.5) then they are
the original ones and will definitely be knackered on a 1999 model. If
they have been replaced before they will be an alloy construction with a
cruciform cross section rather than the circular section of the plain
steel ones. These are less likely to have failed.

Signature

Paul Giverin
British Jet Engine Website http://www.britjet.co.uk

Reply to address NOT valid. Replace NEWS with paul.

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Chris H - 27 Jan 2004 20:48 GMT

Paul,

Many Thanks for the advice.

Chris..

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