Question about shocks...

"liquid_popcorn" (liquid-popcorn) 12/29/2013 at 16:38 • Filed to: crush it, parking lot mechanic

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So, my sister in law drives a 2004 Ford Focus SE, 191k miles. Working on some misfire/running rough issues.

Separate issue: it rides like shit. Drove over a speedbump while test driving it, absolutely horrible clunking and no suspension response. Is that shocks or struts? Or both? How do I test that? Is it advisable to replace both at the same time if that's the issue?

Also, any other related suspension bits/mounts/bushings etc that I should check while I'm at it? I'm getting another few hours with the car probably tomorrow evening, so I'd like to be able to price parts and figure out what else it needs, as she's trying to decide if it's worth investing more money in (spent 1500+ this year on window regulator, most of the cooling system replaced, new tires, etc.) or if she should sell it and buy/lease a new car, most likely through me at Lindsay VW.

Thoughts/advice/whatever? Thanks!

Desu-San-Desu > liquid_popcorn 12/29/2013 at 16:41

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Clunking over bumps is shocks/struts (essentially same thing). If it has a lot of body roll and wobble when changing direction, that's worn out springs. My Audi? Has both, lol.

PS9 > liquid_popcorn 12/29/2013 at 16:43

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Is this sitting under the hood? If so, I fear the pin's already been pulled on this grenade.

If this is what you got, nevermind the shocks. Craigslist that bitch immediately and get as far away from that motor as you can.

davedave1111 > liquid_popcorn 12/29/2013 at 16:46

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Ball joints, rubber bushings, coil springs and anything else Focus forums suggest is a common issue.

For the clunking, I'd have guessed ball joints first anyway. Lack of suspension response sounds like you mean it isn't compressing? Normally a sign of the shocks being worn out is that it bounces more than it should - what happens when you bounce on the corner? Possibly you have broken springs, if it's not compressing, instead of rebounding too much.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > liquid_popcorn 12/29/2013 at 16:46

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Could be a bad ball joint, bad sway bar end link, bad bushing, bad shock/strut, bad upper mount, bad wheel bearing, bad tie rod (inner or outer).....clunking could be lots of things. Though bad response kinda narrows it down to shock/strut/bushing to my mind.

Aero > PS9 12/29/2013 at 17:27

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This man speaks absolute truth.

Aero > liquid_popcorn 12/29/2013 at 17:36

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You can buy a complete SVT Focus suspension kit (shocks, struts, springs, mounts, and rear sway bar) for less than $300, it's much higher quality than KYB or Monroe and doesn't ride harsh.

The front control arm rear bushings can fail, this causes all sorts of noise and terrible steering feel. You can buy complete control arms with bushings and ball joints for less than $100 each. Also, the front sway bar end links are notorious for failing and cause a bunch of rattling over bumps.

Without getting under the car and pushing and pulling on stuff it's hard to tell exactly what's wrong. Overall the Focus has an incredibly basic suspension layout in the front, so you can rebuild stuff pretty cheap.

However, as PS9 said, if it has an SPI engine SELL IT!

orcim > PS9 12/29/2013 at 18:15

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Have that in my Escort. Ate the valve seat at 185K. Wish I'd been paying attention a couple years ago. Now have reconditioned lower end with remanufactured head (specifically to get the valve seat issue under control.) Seems ok.. but I wonder..

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > liquid_popcorn 12/29/2013 at 18:20

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Shocking

liquid_popcorn > PS9 12/30/2013 at 08:20

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It's the Zetec 2.0, haha. It's been kind of a piece of shit anyway, but no valve troubles so far.

liquid_popcorn > Desu-San-Desu 12/30/2013 at 08:20

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Haha, thanks for the tip.

liquid_popcorn > Aero 12/30/2013 at 08:22

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Good to know.

I'll be working on the misfire issue tonight, so if I can scrounge up some extra jack stands I'll be checking the suspension as well to see what's loose/broken/completely missing there as well.

liquid_popcorn > davedave1111 12/30/2013 at 08:23

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No compression is the main issue; it just crashes over speedbumps, then doesn't settle right away. There isn't a lot of bounce, just crashiness. I'll hopefully be able to pull all four wheels off tonight to get a better look if I can get the misfire issue dealt with, as that's the most serious problem for the time being.