IMPORTANT: ALL MK3 Focus Owners, I could use your input.

[Twenty]

This calls for the caps key.

THANK YOU ZILLON!

Seriously, job well done for being so proactive about this, and doing the legwork. Here's hoping Ford will recognize this and try to remedy it.

[3focuslater]

Originally Posted by Zillon

Well, everything's installed. Fasteners are all torqued to spec. And the car drives... wonderfully silent. No clunking, no creaking, and nothing feels or sounds loose in the front end.

The center strut nuts were so overtorqued, an electric impact couldn't break them loose. I had to revert to an air impact to break those free. I believe this is where the creaking was coming from. Also, I found that I had overtorqued the sway endlink nuts.

Before everyone goes running to their dealer, remember that Ford needs to look at what I've done first before they'll approve any kind of fix. I have a phone appointment with my regional CSM on Thursday, November 29th; I'll be reporting my findings to her and Ford then. I'm hoping to be able to put a few more miles on the install and give the car a thorough shakedown to hopefully eliminate any potential problems.

Man, talk about a long-awaited sigh of relief.

Thanks for being so determined to find the cause and the solution to this issue with the Focus... In my case this being the 4th Focus I have owned and the one I loved the most, I just want it to be noise and problem free like the other 3.. Thanks for your hard work!!!! Each step of the way you get closer and closer, seeing as though there is not much more to change this could be the answer !!!

[Zillon]

Originally Posted by Twenty

This calls for the caps key.

THANK YOU ZILLON!

Seriously, job well done for being so proactive about this, and doing the legwork. Here's hoping Ford will recognize this and try to remedy it.

I really hope they do.

Just had a buddy of mine sign the papers for a Focus ST, he called me last night and I had him check his strut towers. No reinforcements on the strut tower brace. Hopefully for his sake, the clunk never manifests itself on his car, but in the off chance that it does, this should be a help.

I really hope for the rest of you that this becomes a proper factory approved solution, but only time will tell.

[Twenty]

I added to your rep, that is the absolute least I could do.

I will try to work with the dealership I'm at to get my own car fixed, using what you have found here.

[Zillon]

Originally Posted by Twenty

I added to your rep, that is the absolute least I could do.

I will try to work with the dealership I'm at to get my own car fixed, using what you have found here.

Thanks!

Let me know how things work out. At least you work at a Ford dealer.

[Bogey]

Thanks for your help zillon so im thinking i should suggest this same process for my car, its goes in on the 29th. Which deaLership you work at northstar?

[Twenty]

I'll mention it to my friend in the service department, see what she can do. I'll admit to not expecting anything really, while it's not yet a recognized problem by Ford.

@Bogey: Metro actually, downtown.

[BlazeFocus]

Originally Posted by Twenty

I'll admit to not expecting anything really, while it's not yet a recognized problem by Ford.

That's a very important point you've made; Ford must follow-up on this in great detail and do something in the affirmative. If they don't, then they are simply counting beans (per the direction of the directors in finance) and wanting everyone to fend for themselves. It's one thing to engage social media; it's an entirely different thing to actually follow through with a TSB and/or ensure clear communication to the dealer network that owners rely upon.

[Zillon]

Originally Posted by Twenty

I'll mention it to my friend in the service department, see what she can do. I'll admit to not expecting anything really, while it's not yet a recognized problem by Ford.

@Bogey: Metro actually, downtown.

Well, mentioning it to your service department would be the first step, it helps to document the issue just for the sake of gathering data and getting your car in the system.

I put 100 hard miles on the car today, and things are still sounding solid and tight. Hit every kind of road there was; highway, backroad, 2-lane road, smooth pavement, rough pavement, etc. Drove great.

[Shade-010]

Originally Posted by BlazeFocus

That's a very important point you've made; Ford must follow-up on this in great detail and do something in the affirmative. If they don't, then they are simply counting beans (per the direction of the directors in finance) and wanting everyone to fend for themselves. It's one thing to engage social media; it's an entirely different to actually follow through with a TSB and/or ensure clear communication to the dealer network that owners rely upon.

The way I look at it, is if they don't follow up and through with a proven fix (after a bit of driving) then our responsibility as owners is to seek legal council and make this a Class action suit... I doubt Ford wants that much Negative Attention for their best selling vehicle.

Originally Posted by Zillon

Well, mentioning it to your service department would be the first step, it helps to document the issue just for the sake of gathering data and getting your car in the system.

I put 100 hard miles on the car today, and things are still sounding solid and tight. Hit every kind of road there was; highway, backroad, 2-lane road, smooth pavement, rough pavement, etc. Drove great.

Sweet dude, keep on it and let us know... so far so good...