My "new" Zetec S

Hi All,

Had an opportunity to go over the suspension again yesterday, found a few things :

I'd done everything up with the car on axle stands, with it on the ground, found the drop links were loose in the arb, tightened up
Found that whilst the front subframe bolts were tight, Managed to get 1 turn tighter

With these done its a lot better, most of the clunks are gone, but still get groans which sound like they come from the front shocks when steering and creaks from what sounds like the springs when coming down off speed bumps.

Found that when you turn the steering, the top strut nut moves on the top hat ( side to side ) I tightened these nuts whilst the strut was off the car, but am wondering if I try nipping up with an impact gun it might get it a bit tighter ) - I'll try later

Al.

Hi All,

Well, tightening the top strut mounts made no difference.

I'm 100% happy everything is tight now, so that leaves me with the thought that something I've fitted is either poor quality (new) or damaged ( second hand )

Aftermarket new parts are :
ARB Bushes
Wishbone bushes
Springs

Second Hand parts
Front hub knuckles

I'm tempted to fit the bIlstein B6's with eibach springs I took off the ST ( as I had no noise from them ) - even if its just to rule out the shocks/springs.

This car is driving me mad

Hi All,

Been using the car for the last couple of days now and its still horrible, nothing has bedded in

Every time I hit a bump get the same creaking noise and coming off speed bumps get a massive clunk ( sounds like the shocks are bottoming out )

Resigned to the fact that the springs I bought are junk, I phoned an eibach supplier, we had a really good chat about the issues I was having and although he could have just flogged me £186 worth of springs suggested that springs very rarely squeek and the problem may be somewhere else.

He also stated that there shouldn't be an issue using OEM struts with lowering springs.

So I'm back to square 1.

I don't need the car next week so am tempted just to take it apart, replace the rear wishbone bushes with powerflex and then rebuild

Even considering fitting the rack I took out of my ST

As you know, I'm a complete noob regarding Fiestas, but I had "groaning adventures" with a CL7 Accord. Was doing my head in for a solid month. Lifting the car up in the air and going over all the suspension bits by trying to rock the wheel up/down and sidewards gave no results, using a prybar to check components also gave no results. No apparent excessive movement anywhere. To make it even more confusing, after standing for a while (overnight) the car would not "groan" for like the first 5 - 10 minutes of driving.
I got so fed up that I took a syringe with some oil and injected it into one rubber boot at a time. Ended up being a lower ball joint that had no free play in it, the rubber boot looked fine as well, but as soon as I started injecting oil into it, it started pouring out from a hairline split. Basically, it was dry and rusted on the inside, causing it to "groan" while going over bumps, or braking.