[jcse]

European Ford Focus 1.6 Ghia SW

The car was built in 2000 and I bought it on 2001. I have this issue for 5 years and I can’t find a solution
On uneven roads or when there is a patch on the rood or when it’s a windy day it is a hard job to keep the car on a straight line. It pulls from one side to another. It’s the only car that I have to drive with both hands on the steering wheel. I droved other Focus hand didn’t felt that.
1-The dealer says that everything is fine with the car and it’s a normal behavior on this cars because of the suspension blá , blá , blá [mad]
2-I have already set the alignment for 3 times with no success
3-I have replaced the tires from steel wheels with 185/65R14 to alloy wheels with 205/50R16 (my wife says that the car is worse since then)
4-I have to use 30psi to reduce the problem
5-I have already lift the car and shacked the front wheels and didn’t found any play
6-The car goes to an annual inspection and passes with no problems

For me this is the worse handling car that I had and didn’t sell it because I haven’t the money to by a new one.

I’m completely lost on this and I would like to know if someone had this issue and solved it

João

 

[919Maniac]

I'm going to guess that it is due to the change in the wheels. Mine got a lot worse at "chasing" grooves and ruts in the road when I went to 17" wheels (215/45). It's one of the compromises you make when you change the wheel size by that much (going up 2").

 

[BigRed03]

The brand of tires you have also plays a role. Are there any long staights lines in the tire tread? I have g-force Sports by BFG and they do exactly what you say.

 

[jcse]

I have Avon ZV3 tires on mine. I really don't understand why the people keep saying that it's a car with a great handling[80?] . The other Focus I drove was a diesel one and because of that heavier on the front. Maybe that’s why the handling was different.

João

 

[rescuer265]

X2 on tire brand/design. I have the BFG touring TA with 4 wide straight lines in the tread. When I switched to these, It was almost instantly that I noticed exactly what you are feeling with yours.

 

[..:: sleestak ::..]

they commonly refer to that as tramlining, I believe. It is more prevalent in tires with shorter/stiffer sidewalls....which usually come along with the larger wheel size. Its just the nature of the beast.

When I first go my svt, I noticed it did it a lot along seems in the road, groved pavement, things like that. So in fact, your car isn't handling poorly at all....it's handling rather well, lol.

Here is a little more to read about tramlining on TireRack:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=47

 

[mighty_mouse]

I've nocited the same in the wind... feels like 4 flats and you gotta fight to keep it in your lane. I always attribute it to a light car thats a little on the tall side. I dont know what it would be like now since I lowered it.

Mouse

 

[jcse]

If the problem is because of the tires, I do think that ford should give advice on that. Also when I bought the tires I said that the car likes to tramlining, so the tire shop should had give me some advice and didn't.
Anyway I think that the way focus was built also contributes for this, because is the first car that I have with this issue.

João

 

[Impaled]

Your car is sticking to the road.

That's not bad handling lol.

 

[jcse]

Yesterday after replacing the fuel pump I went to a street test.

I think I found the problem, but I don't know to solve it and I would like you help.

If the car is under strong acceleration (3 gear uphill 5000rpm) the steering is ok, but if I take the foot from accelerator the car begins to wander. There must be some play somewhere.

What to check?

João

 

[Xetchx]

It really should always handle better during acceleration, your up on the suspention so its tighter and more responsive, while coasting it will feel looser and more free floating

atleast I think thats how it works with most other vehicles

 

[jcse]

My other cars don't have this beaver.

João

 

[MaroonZX3]

Maybe your front coil springs are broken. Ford has had an extended warranty for broken springs on the 00-03 Focus. My wifes 2000 Taurus had the broken springs and the front was really bouncy. It felt OK when I pushed on the fender by hand, but bumps and corners were terrible.

 

[jcse]

I don't think so, because the car can corner very fast with no issues and the grip is fantastic. I do think that it can be some play on the steering rack. I can fell a small dead zone on the steering wheel, which goes way under hard acceleration.

João

 

[penguin]

tramlining is typically worsened when the tire tread grows wider, so it is not unexpected that this behavior would worsen with the much wider tires you put on.

How many miles/Km on the vehicle? Perhaps some new shocks and struts would be in order, as poor damping can cause odd handling on uneven/rough roads.

 

[nilskje]

If you have the possibility of borrowing a set of wheels for testing from another Focus that does not behave like this, would have been a good start, the only tyres that keeps mine running on rails is continental premium contact (my 2000 is very picky on tires). Hopefully when doing wheel alignment they have done this for all 4 wheels?

 

[jcse]

I bought the car with 20 000km and 185/65 R14.
The car has now 97 000km with 205/50R16.

The handling was always the same and I had the steering aligned several times.
Next time I will try to put 0º3' toe-in. Right now I don't know the values, because I forgot to ask.

Maybe the handling is normal but I don’t like it and don’t feel comfortable with it. I can drive other car at 150km/h and my wife doesn’t mess with me, but when I’m driving the focus she begin to complain at 130km/h. Even she is not driving she can feel something.

João

 

[jcse]

Today jack the front end start the engine and shake the wheel. I couldn't feel any play or knocking.

João

 

[penguin]

> The handling was always the same

That actually is quite good, for any vehicle to go from 20,000 km to 97,000 km and not have any deterioration in the shocks, or decline in handling. Most stock shocks and struts are quite poor by that mileage.

 

[jcse]

Tired of the handling of my focus I made the decision of aligning it myself. I only rotate the tie rods about 30º increasing the toe in and the handling is completely different. I don’t fell the car wander any more and after a corner I can fell the steering wheel trying to return to the central position.
I have no idea if I have to much toe in or if I am out of the ford specs. I will rotate the wheel and I will check that.
I also measure the rear and I do think that I have a lot of toe in. I will try to reduce the toe in the rear and see what happens.

João