I haven't had the same issues, but sounds like they're throwing the parts cannon at it at your expense 🙁🤬👎

Rust belt or not?
🤔

 

Haha yea I was like aye. No I live in Denver, CO. No rust luckily.

 

You can generally judge by your tires if there is an uneven wear if alot of those components are bad. Most common would be sway bar end links if it's clunking when you hit a bump. I would advise finding another shop.

 

Thank you so much! That makes more sense than to have it all go out. Definitely going to take it somewhere else lol

 

You getting the shaft! Get a second opinion

 

I had the exact same issue with my 2014 ST at around 70,000 miles. Big front end bangs/clunks at very slow speeds- like backing down driveway onto street, or going in 1st gear over a speed bump, etc. I noticed it the most when the wheel was turned significantly (again, like backing out of my driveway into the street).

My local mechanic checked it out, didn’t find anything specifically out of whack with the suspension anywhere. They did find a Ford TSB on the issue, with recommendation to re-grease the suspension everywhere and tighten everything up. So they did that. I knew they were missing the issue and was sure I was wasting my money…

…except it turns out that fixed the issue in my case. I couldn’t believe it.

That’s no guarantee that your issue is the same as mine, but your description sounds exactly like how I was describing mine at the time. Good luck!

 

Greasing stuff is always a good idea . . . my other thought is motor mounts . . . at that mileage I think others have mentioned the passenger side upper mount blowing through it's rubbery gasket at 40K?? Upgrading my motor mounts did solve a host of problems.

 

Mine went out at 35k miles, I was getting knocking noises and tons of wheel hop. Great idea to change them out, I ended up with all 3 Damond mounts before 38k miles. They do solve lots of problems, but add some vibrations.

 

I had a lot of noise like this and it was the shock absorbers. Those are wear items and should be checked or replaced first before you get into tough or expensive stuff.

 

I had the exact same issue with my 2014 ST at around 70,000 miles. Big front end bangs/clunks at very slow speeds- like backing down driveway onto street, or going in 1st gear over a speed bump, etc. I noticed it the most when the wheel was turned significantly (again, like backing out of my driveway into the street).

My local mechanic checked it out, didn’t find anything specifically out of whack with the suspension anywhere. They did find a Ford TSB on the issue, with recommendation to re-grease the suspension everywhere and tighten everything up. So they did that. I knew they were missing the issue and was sure I was wasting my money…

…except it turns out that fixed the issue in my case. I couldn’t believe it.

That’s no guarantee that your issue is the same as mine, but your description sounds exactly like how I was describing mine at the time. Good luck!
[/QUOT

👀

I had the exact same issue with my 2014 ST at around 70,000 miles. Big front end bangs/clunks at very slow speeds- like backing down driveway onto street, or going in 1st gear over a speed bump, etc. I noticed it the most when the wheel was turned significantly (again, like backing out of my driveway into the street).

My local mechanic checked it out, didn’t find anything specifically out of whack with the suspension anywhere. They did find a Ford TSB on the issue, with recommendation to re-grease the suspension everywhere and tighten everything up. So they did that. I knew they were missing the issue and was sure I was wasting my money…

…except it turns out that fixed the issue in my case. I couldn’t believe it.

That’s no guarantee that your issue is the same as mine, but your description sounds exactly like how I was describing mine at the time. Good luck!

👀 no way? That’s amazing for sure! I will definitely have to take a look and see if that will fix the issue. It’s apparently a little loose so that would be incredible if that solved it. It’s just mostly annoying and I am worried if it turns into something serious and my wheel flys off in a turn 🤣 Thank you so much for the advice! It sounds like the exact same problem honestly.

 

I got another shop to look at it today and they told me struts and bushings. The quoted $2,500 so that’s definitely a better price compared to 4k 🤣 I still might do a motor mount while I am at it. Thank you all for the help! It’s much appreciated 😊

 

I got another shop to look at it today and they told me struts and bushings. The quoted $2,500 so that’s definitely a better price compared to 4k 🤣 I still might do a motor mount while I am at it. Thank you all for the help! It’s much appreciated 😊

@LaTina

Life is an interesting game . . . it's all in how it's played. When I saw your quote in my email list, I was thinking "struts and bushings of what?" . . . but from the, what is that a cell phone app report, it seems like, as was mentioned here before, "the shocks"???? The OEM shocks are a wear item, and from response here they are good for 16K miles??? Can't remember, but it isn't very impressive . . . so if the car has 80K on the OEM shocks then they are over due for replacement.

Still the question is, what is the history of this car?? Lots of washboard dirt road driving??? It has been rallied and beat hard?? Or, it's a daily driver on normal road surfaces? Possibly "sway bar links" could be worn . . . "bushings" of any OEM source probably could be "worn."

But, reason for posting, with both cars, trucks, and motorcycles I have thrown money at a problem, trying this idea out or that, and usually the fix finally shows up, and it's simple, and relatively "inexpensive."

I know prices for everything are "up" . . . but still "$2500" to replace two front shocks" and sway bar end links??? Still seems "high" . . . ???? Others may post in with hard numbers.

But, like I said at the beginning, it's "how you play it," . . . if you are "shopping for a number" that is what is happening. If you make some decisions about your "project" . . . then you are calling the shots, mostly, and then sometimes while doing that "creative" process, the techs will say, "This is breaking, you should think about it." So, if you look in my sig line you can see "mountune clubsports" . . . I did that a while back, and that was "worthy" . . . it lowers the car around an inch, and it goes to Bilstein shocks . . . . I haven't looked at the price they are charging now, but pretty sure I got all 4 units, installed, for under $2500???

So, based on the service history of the car, never replaced the shocks?? OK, you probably do need shocks. But, to not have the tech shaking the "strut" or the sway bar end links in front of you to show you indeed, they are "weak" . . . start with the cheap and easy ideas and work up. The post with the idea about "lubing everything" would be a good start . . . . Be prudent. There are a few parts that do want to be upgraded, FMIC, RMM, UMMs . . . and shocks.

 

The front shocks are a PITA because of the way they are clamped to the knuckle. Its really hard to spread it so it releases the shock. Took me about an hour each side just for that.

 

This is the full breakdown from the shop of everything that’s recommended. They inspected the car and told me. I didn’t get to see anything unfortunately that they were seeing. The last place said about a ball joint but this place didn’t say anything about it. I think replacing the struts and coilovers would be a good start, I have not replaced them since I got her. I will do a motor mount too for sure. Thank you for your advice! You said you use Mountune for your suspension but I don’t think they carry kits anymore or struts? Do you have any other kits that would be a good upgrade?
She’s a daily and I drive a decent amount on the days I go to the office. I do like to have fun of course living next to the mountains but nothing to wild. Definitely off roading and potholes though 🤣
@theBluFlash

 

This is the full breakdown from the shop of everything that’s recommended. They inspected the car and told me. I didn’t get to see anything unfortunately that they were seeing. The last place said about a ball joint but this place didn’t say anything about it. I think replacing the struts and coilovers would be a good start, I have not replaced them since I got her. I will do a motor mount too for sure. Thank you for your advice! You said you use Mountune for your suspension but I don’t think they carry kits anymore or struts? Do you have any other kits that would be a good upgrade?
She’s a daily and I drive a decent amount on the days I go to the office. I do like to have fun of course living next to the mountains but nothing to wild. Definitely off roading and potholes though 🤣
@theBluFlash

@LaTina

Sorry, I didn't get any email notification on the recent post . . . I was starting to feel like, "You put your heart and soul into your posts, and then they grow up and ignore you . . . ." : - ))))

OK, I did check the Mountune site for the "clubsport" product and it isn't showing up. It's not so critical that it be Mountune, but they take the Bilsten shock & the xxxx spring and pre-assemble them. Which according to some here, is a PITA to do.

Many of the regular posters here probably know the exact parts they use and they could be ordered from a place like Rock Auto, to then be installed by you or a garage willing to install your parts--some do, some don't. The joy of the Clubsport, in my case "non-adjustable" . . . because I do not track the car . . . is that it lowers the car to a "sweet spot" such that I'm not scraping the front bumper item on driveways . . . and it is enough to make a clear difference in handling. Some guys here in LA like to put the car almost down onto the road . . . but then have to come to a stop for speed bumps. It's a good "happy medium" product, that could be reproduced via parts.

One other option is to email or call Mountune and ask them if they could assemble them for you . . . it seems like they make something and then put it on the web, but they might take a request. After I did my install with them in Carson, CA . . . they suggested that the car might need to be "realigned" . . . they made some suggestions to shops, but they were all "busy." Took it to a local reputable shop and the guy said, "The way the Focus is put together you can't just adjust the alignment. You would have to take it apart and then lift it to the next spline . . ." . . . )paraphrasing from old guy memory). His point was that the Clubsports kept the suspension "within spec" and it would be a waste of time and money to "adjust them." Point being that if you are just replacing the shocks you probably don't need an "alignment" . . . that $139 would be too low to actually do the job right, etc.

Seems like a fair number of folks here have replaced the tie rods or the parts that would adjust camber more easily . . . but if the OEM stuff is "OK" that could be done another day. The whole thing is to do "bite-able chunks" of upgrades . . . and not do "the whole list" at one time. The "cabin airfilters" could be done some other time. Engine airfilter should be done "religiously" . . . .

The question is, is there a local shop in Denver that is known to work on STs . . . for a reasonable price?? Find them . . . . The Focus is a "budget bomber" . . . for the money a great car, and if cared for seems to be a good long term relationship . . . . The key is to find a reputable shop that "knows the ST" . . . that can come in handy.

 

Keep shopping around, both struts, Bilstein B6 will be like $475 total and B8 around $490 at Rockauto. Heavy duty swaybar links around $70 more. Adding top bearing and ball joints will be less than $725 total top. Shop around for installation.

 

Ohlins R/T! $2500 cash will get you a nice setup complete with Vorshlag camber plates delivered right to your door! 🤑