I have a 2007 Ford Focus ST W/120K miles, original owner, excellent shape, runs like a top, but its starting to make noise on bumps in right front wheel area. Asking a repair shop to troubleshoot it with an open wallet is a little scary.How would you approach this?I know a little bit about tie rods & shocks ect... but not much.
@backyarder "How would you approach this?I know a little bit about tie rods & shocks ect... but not much."
I think it would be beneficial to better acquaint yourself with the front end components that may be involved so that you can check them yourself and when it comes time to take your car to a mechanic you will be more knowledgeable to dialogue with him.
The attached video is straight-forward and concise with good information and visual access to the parts he is diagnosing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS3CcuFGGKk
its starting to make noise on bumps in right front wheel area.
probably a worn CV joint
How would you approach this?
Well the usual approach is you bring him your car and tell him the problem (or better yet SHOW him, but he might be too busy). If he's not slammed, he MIGHT throw it on the lift in front of you and check it while you're there, or he might ask you to leave it with him and he'll get back to you.
Then he looks over your car to find the source of your problem.
When he finds it he calls you, and says your turbo-encabulator is worn out, and gives you an estimate. The part is 5 million dollars and it will take me 3 hours to install it, or whatever. Then you say "yes go ahead", or "no the crackhead down the street can do it cheaper."
If you're unsure about anything just talk to him, straighten things out and make sure you have an understanding before you leave. Just tell him you have a heart condition and can't handle bill shock, and that you need confirmation. They're usually fine with this.
Boy, the post-Covid prices of those turbo-encabulators have really sky-rocketed!
Watch this video that was JUST posted. It's perfect for you.
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/postid/298397/
@avalon04 well they're in sort supply ever since Tesla start putting them in all of their hydrocoptic marzal vanes.
Examine your front suspension for worn/loose parts. Also check wheel bearings.
For general checking of suspension components with your hands, putting your hands at 12 o-clock 6 o'clock checks the control arms, and 9-6 checks tie rods. Your bare hands can only apply so much torque compared to a wheel sitting on the ground. If you really want to check them, use a tire iron for leverage. In my 1999 Ranger, it would wobble a bit going 65 on the highway. I checked the suspension, it seemed fine, then I got clever and applied a boatload of torque to a tire iron -it moved, so I replaced both upper ball joints. It's been fine since.
Your strut mounts are probably worn out. They've been in there 16 years if they're OEM. Replace the entire strut as one unit and do both of them. Either do OEM Motorcraft parts or KYBs. Don't use Duralast or really any generic auto parts store brand. You'll need an alignment afterwards. Replacing struts as a unit is pretty simple, all you need are hand tools and a torque wrench.
