2012 Titanium Front Strut Low Speed Noise (Clunk/Rattle)

[hand-filer]

Originally Posted by Some Guy From NY

Yes I am well aware most people here are talking about a clunk, but a few people have been posting about a rattle. If you have this rattle it does NOT sound like it is coming from the engine bay at all. It sounds like the suspension and this is why I thought it was related to this issue for so long.

And it is more than likely the strut bearings. I had mine replaced and it was quiet for about 1,500 K's.
Last week I jacked up the front of the car and pulled down the strut dust cover and the bump stop on both struts. I sprayed the area where the bearings reside with a liberal amount of white lithium grease and have been rattle free since.
This issue has been driving me nuts to the point where I almost traded the car in last week. Alas this car has very poor resale value so I decided to keep it and deal with.

[FordCustomerService]

Hey gang,

Heads up! I'm the new Ford Service representative around these parts. Please remember that I can lend a hand by escalating to the Customer Service Managers for your area. For those who haven't already, please send me a PM with your VIN, contact info, mileage estimate, and preferred servicing dealer.

Thanks!

-Crystal

[Zillon]

Originally Posted by hand-filer

This issue has been driving me nuts to the point where I almost traded the car in last week. Alas this car has very poor resale value so I decided to keep it and deal with.

Yep, I've been sorely tempted to go buy something else, but my resale has dropped like a rock.

12.5k trade value. Incredible.

On a related note, I have noticed that when I wash the car, and I spray water into the wheelwells, the clunk quiets down temporarily, which leads me to believe some lubrication is needed to keep things quiet. I'll be using a liberal amount of grease on the bump stops, between the bearing and strut mount, and the strut bearings themselves.

[HuskerFocus]

Originally Posted by Zillon

Yep, I've been sorely tempted to go buy something else, but my resale has dropped like a rock.

12.5k trade value. Incredible.

12.5k... really? My SEL Hatch (with MFT, no leather, no sunroof, etc..) 'shows' $15k on kbb ... but who knows if that's right. So much for equity in a car... and I even put 25% down.

[HuskerFocus]

Originally Posted by FordCustomerService

Hey gang,

Heads up! I'm the new Ford Service representative around these parts. Please remember that I can lend a hand by escalating to the Customer Service Managers for your area. For those who haven't already, please send me a PM with your VIN, contact info, mileage estimate, and preferred servicing dealer.

Thanks!

-Crystal

Crystal, I have a question for you ... what do you do if the noise/issue comes back? So far, mine hasn't (worked on driver side front...but passenger side front is now starting), thankfully.

But I haven't heard/seen a definite course of action from anyone since some dealers have refused to work on it again after the first 'fix' ...

Thanks.

[hand-filer]

Originally Posted by Zillon

Yep, I've been sorely tempted to go buy something else, but my resale has dropped like a rock.

12.5k trade value. Incredible.

On a related note, I have noticed that when I wash the car, and I spray water into the wheelwells, the clunk quiets down temporarily, which leads me to believe some lubrication is needed to keep things quiet. I'll be using a liberal amount of grease on the bump stops, between the bearing and strut mount, and the strut bearings themselves.

Interesting comment about washing the car. I made the same observation.
When you report back with your results, I will be curious to know how much grease you find on the factory bearings.
Thanks,
hf


Sent from my iPad

[FGLLMX]

It seems as per www.fordparts.com that 2013MY Focus has a different Part# for the front struts, could it be an improved version which solves this issue? are there any owners of 2013 cars with the front end clunk?

[Uptcv1]

Originally Posted by FGLLMX

It seems as per www.fordparts.com that 2013MY Focus has a different Part# for the front struts, could it be an improved version which solves this issue? are there any owners of 2013 cars with the front end clunk?

I have checked 2013 MYfocus and also fordparts.com both show the original parts... not the TSB parts.... hmmmm.....

[rdyapo]

Originally Posted by JNBradow

Thanks for the info. I did take my car in and they did hear the clunk and did tell me they have never had a focus with this issue. It is frustrating that 1) its a new car (2200 miles) 2) Ford seems none to worried their cars are broken 3) I don't have enough money to pay off the loan and trade it in for a GM, Honda, or Toyota...HA!

Thanks for posting these comments. My car only seems to clunk when I do the first stop and turn, it will make about 3 or 4 clunks as I turn right or left then it doesn't make the sound until I stop and turn the car off. Then I'll start the car again and when I make that stop and turn, it makes the clunk sound again, but doesn't do it again, until I stop and shut off the car. I just have to wait until it gets worse before I take it to the dealership.

[Shantheman2012]

Originally Posted by hand-filer

And it is more than likely the strut bearings. I had mine replaced and it was quiet for about 1,500 K's.
Last week I jacked up the front of the car and pulled down the strut dust cover and the bump stop on both struts. I sprayed the area where the bearings reside with a liberal amount of white lithium grease and have been rattle free since.
This issue has been driving me nuts to the point where I almost traded the car in last week. Alas this car has very poor resale value so I decided to keep it and deal with.

I don't know if it's possible...but i'm unclear where you are spraying the lithium. Picture possibly?