Car rattles - advice please

[Patto22 10]

I have a 1999 ford focus which rattles when going over bumps but is fine on smooth roads. Have taken it to get checked out and the garage gave me a few things I need to get sorted. The two main things they said were urgent were both front suspension links have gone and the near side coil spring.

 

Do any of you know if that would be the cause? Don't want to spend the money getting it fixed if its not actually the reason!

 

Before anyone says, I didn't ask the mechanic as he was very pushy and made me feel uncomfortable! Would like an impartial opinion before taking it elsewhere!

 

Thanks!

[martss 10]

It could be the cause.

 

I've just done the rear drop links on my car, 2005 Nissan Primera and it cleared a lot of noise. The front is rattling and I will be changing those soon, same symptoms as yours, fine on smooth roads but rattles over bumps. it could be described as a knock instead of a rattle.

 

They're not expensive parts, mine were £13 each.

 

Put "drop links" into youtube and compare the noise on the videos to the noise your car is making.

[Tomm06 12]

It could be the cause.

 

I've just done the rear drop links on my car, 2005 Nissan Primera and it cleared a lot of noise. The front is rattling and I will be changing those soon, same symptoms as yours, fine on smooth roads but rattles over bumps. it could be described as a knock instead of a rattle.

 

They're not expensive parts, mine were £13 each.

 

Put "drop links" into youtube and compare the noise on the videos to the noise your car is making.

 

This - I had a similar knock on my Astra when going over bumps, I changed the suspension springs and the drop link practically fell out, problem solved. I bought a pair of new drop links, didn't cost me £30.

[gaz1250 10]

The front links have gone on every ford Ive owned and have made a knockin/rattle like you say

[JordanSheff 10]

I have a 1999 ford focus which rattles when going over bumps but is fine on smooth roads. Have taken it to get checked out and the garage gave me a few things I need to get sorted. The two main things they said were urgent were both front suspension links have gone and the near side coil spring.

 

Do any of you know if that would be the cause? Don't want to spend the money getting it fixed if its not actually the reason!

 

Before anyone says, I didn't ask the mechanic as he was very pushy and made me feel uncomfortable! Would like an impartial opinion before taking it elsewhere!

 

Thanks!

Link rods and spring mot failure.Both can make the car handle badly.My advice is have them fixed.As you will have to do them for the mot anyway.

[martss 10]

My near side rear link was an MOT advisory last year, did them for this years test but I'm doing the fronts just because of the annoying noise.

[Janus 28]

How far away is the the MOT? If not too far off you could put it in for a test. You may find that the fault is something that is part of the test.

[JordanSheff 10]

link rods and spring can make rattles by the way forgot to add to my other post

[Patto22 10]

Thanks so much for all your replies!

 

Martss... Took your advice and checked out YouTube and it sounds exactly like the noise mine is making!

 

Will definitely be getting them fixed as I'd be too worried not to, just relieved it will sort out the noise too!

[*Wallace* 333]

Also check the heat shield over the exhaust they do rattle on the Focus but an easy fix.

[Obelix 11]

I have a 1999 ford focus which rattles when going over bumps but is fine on smooth roads. Have taken it to get checked out and the garage gave me a few things I need to get sorted. The two main things they said were urgent were both front suspension links have gone and the near side coil spring.

 

Do any of you know if that would be the cause? Don't want to spend the money getting it fixed if its not actually the reason!

 

Before anyone says, I didn't ask the mechanic as he was very pushy and made me feel uncomfortable! Would like an impartial opinion before taking it elsewhere!

 

Thanks!

 

The 99-2001 Focus has a known problem with springs cracking at the top of the travel. They will need swapping, both sides, if one is cracked.

 

The drop links are another known fail point - about £40 for a pair of good ones from somewhere like Andrew Page. They bang very noticeably as you load the suspension up. I had three sets go on my Focus over the years, you get about 80,000 miles from them. Probably less in sheffield and certainly much less in Hull due to the speedbumps!

[Patto22 10]

Thank you! Yeah that's about the price I've been quoted for them at a garage I trust so good to know