Front end suspension noise (clunkes, rattles) fixed

[Foci_Fosho]

My 2003 focus started making these horrible sounds, but after several suspension checks for loose nuts and bolts, I was lost...

Then I read up on the life-span of the front sway bar end-links. My focus has 90,000 miles, but started making the sounds at 82,000.

If your focus makes the horrible sounds at 2-30 mph, or uneven road-surface conditions, but seems fine on open high-way. check the end-links , I'd recommend replacing them.

I looked for some, quoted at Ford dealer-ship for $38 per side... went to Kragen, they had it in stock for $37 per side, then auto-zone for $25 per side.

But these OEM-like brands like "duralast" and something else...
I searched on ebay, but didn't find any that I wanted to buy, however ebay.co.uk (love this site), had then for $45 for both to my door.... 4 days later... (from the UK, obviously.... Fast compared to UPS)

Well here's the pictures.
BEFORE


AFTER






















The stock end-links were torn and abused, grease oozing out some tiny slits in the rubber... Installed the new ones and BAM! all suspension noise gone... my Focus sounds like a normal car driving down the road.

I was thinking it was the Ford dealer-ship on the way they installed the brake lines... I had them looped into the bushing on the strut, but developed leaks, the Ford tech assured I had installed them wrong, so whatever... it works.

[Sponsor]

[WeeAsp]

Great Post !!

[Geezer]

Another thing to keep washed and waxed....they're puurrty!

[blackturbohatch46]

ha ha i replaced mine and the damn noise is still there! i think its my camber plates i have the spc ones i and i heard that they my clank around. does anyone know a brand of camber plates that arent so loud and crapish?

[SVT-SAGE]

Those are some nice end links, the boots on mine were torn (LOL) I got a set at Advance Auto for 13$ a piece. Same link except they werent Zinc plated, just regular Steel.

SPC (Specilty Production Crap) yeah I have the same issue with the clanks, as long as the strut doesnt move around, its cool. Resolved my front camber issues on the cheap.
You can get some LCR plates for about 300$, i think.

[blackturbohatch46]

i thought about htose but are they worth it?

[dirtbrown]

i just ordered the energy suspension bushing set

[SVT-SAGE]

^They have those for the front sway links?

[Sid03SVT]

ive never had to replace end links before, do you need an alignment afterwards? because if you do im just dropping this thing off at the dealership (they are covered by warranty sans a 100 dollar deductable) i also need to do a wheel bearing....why is my car falling apart at 75k?

[xRESSLERxZX3x]

Originally Posted by SVT-SAGE

SPC (Specilty Production Crap) yeah I have the same issue with the clanks, as long as the strut doesnt move around, its cool. Resolved my front camber issues on the cheap.
You can get some LCR plates for about 300$, i think.

I have spc plates. So as long at the stir doesn't move it's fine?