The vehicle owner requested repair of the passenger side front suspension problem regarding wheel bearing noise and loose steering and suspension. The vehicle could not be driven and was towed to the shop. The vehicle had heavy rust and a history of little to no maintenance, but the owner wanted it repaired.
Diagnosis: This vehicle was not safe to road test so our steering and suspension technician raised the vehicle on our hoist and performed a complete visual inspection of the vehicle with close focus on the steering, front suspension, front brakes, and drive-line. A close inspection was made for rust-damaged parts that would complicate the repair.
The repair technician found the passenger's side front wheel bearing had failed and damaged the axle shaft, brake rotor, and brake caliper. They also found the driver's side front wheel bearing was close to failure, the driver's side drive axle grease boot had failed, and the CV joint was worn out. The lower ball joints on both sides were worn to the point of being dangerous, both front suspension struts were worn out, and the stabilizer bar link joints were broken.
Repair: Our technician recommended the replacement of both wheel bearings and steering knuckle assemblies, replacement of both front stabilizer bar links, replacement of both lower control arms including ball-joints, replacement of both front drive axles, front strut replacement on both sides, replacement of both front brake calipers, brake pads, and brake hoses, brake fluid flush, and replacement, and 4-wheel alignment service.
Additional parts not included in the original estimate needed to be replaced due to heavy rusting and difficulty removing parts to gain access to parts that had failed.
Removed necessary parts to gain access to and remove parts requiring replacement, installed new replacement parts, and reassembled components removed during repairs. Road test to confirm quality control of repair work completed.
Lower Control Arm Replacement & Stabilizer Link Replacement
Removed necessary components to gain access to and removed both front lower control arms and stabilizer links from suspension and frame mountings. Inspected frame mounting points for rust damage. Installed new control arms and stabilizer links to suspension and frame mountings as outlined in the factory workshop repair manual. Reassembled all components removed during repair. Road tested and verified issue with the control arm is no longer present.
Both Front Struts
Removed and replaced both front suspension struts. To prevent unstable vehicle handling and steering both front struts were replaced as a set.
Can I replace just one suspension strut?
Replacing the suspension strut on one side only is dangerous. If struts are not replaced in pairs, the ride, handling, and stability of the vehicle are significantly impaired. The dampening difference between new and old struts can cause unsafe vehicle control.
Steering Knuckle Replacement
Removed the front brake pads and brake calipers, disconnected the steering knuckle from the ball joint, and the suspension strut on both sides. Disconnected and separated the axle shaft from the wheel bearing. Installed new steering knuckle and wheel bearing assemblies. Tightened the axle shaft nut.
Front Calipers & Hoses
Disconnected the old brake hoses from the steel brake line and old calipers, removed old calipers, installed the new brake calipers, and then installed new brake hoses with new copper gaskets. Caliper mounting bolts were torqued into place and the brake hose to steel brake line fitting was tightened.
This was a challenging job due to the rusted hose mounting hardware and brake line fittings.
Brake Fluid Exchange
Brake fluid drain and replace, and bleed air from brake system including master cylinder, ABS, and brake calipers. Our brake technician managed to free the rusted brake bleed screws on the rear calipers which allowed the whole brake system to be flushed and a complete brake fluid replacement. Not having to replace the rear brake calipers saved the customer a significant amount of money. Brake line fittings and brake hose fittings were checked for leaks.
How often should brake fluid be replaced?
Most vehicles should have a brake fluid replacement every two years. Brake fluid replacement is strongly recommended in high-humidity climates. The brake fluid is alcohol-based absorbs moisture from the air and causes internal corrosion damage to brake hydraulic parts.
High Mount Stop Light Bulb Labor
Removed necessary components to gain access to the high-mount brake lamp and removed the bulb. Inspected connector. Installed new bulb and performed self-test to verify the issue with light not illuminating was fixed.
Four-Wheel Alignment Service
Inspect tire condition, adjust tire pressure, and inspect steering and suspension components for wear. Check the alignment of the four wheels to factory specifications. Set front steering toe-in. Center steering wheel and road tested the vehicle.
Do you need wheel alignment after replacing the suspension struts?
A wheel alignment must be done whenever suspension struts or other steering and suspension components are replaced. Removing and replacing suspension or steering parts disturbs the wheel alignment settings. Failure to check the vehicle's wheel alignment after repair will cause problems like premature tire wear, poor vehicle handling, and dangerous steering control.
Repair Cost: This repair required a detailed inspection before a repair cost estimate could be provided. The visual inspection showed there were many more damaged parts than the vehicle owner was aware of. A detailed estimate was provided with a caution that due to the extensive rusting of the vehicle, there could be additional charges for labor and additional parts that were damaged or found to not be usable when the vehicle was disassembled. The vehicle owner decided to proceed with the repair.
How much does it cost to replace suspension on Ford Focus?
A popular auto repair guide lists the average cost for a single front Ford Focus Suspension Strut Replacement at between $553 and $612. Labor costs are estimated between $189 and $238, while parts would cost between $364 and $374. Please note that these prices are a national average and do not include variables such as vehicle condition, rust, local price variance of both labor and parts, waste disposal fees, towing, and local taxes.
How does vehicle rust affects repair cost?
Rusted parts that are normally removed and reused will sometimes break or are damaged in the effort to remove the rusted parts. Bolts will break or threads will be stripped when attempting to remove rusted parts. Often the rusted bolts or parts must be heated with a torch to break the rust free. The damage to these parts is unavoidable and can add considerable cost to the repair.
Outcome
A final quality control check and road test showed that the vehicle drove straight, handled correctly, and stopped safely.
Customer Satisfaction
We stressed the poor overall condition of the vehicle to the owner, and they understood the vehicle had many remaining issues and should provide safe transportation if it was limited to local driving. The customer was pleased that his car was repaired and safe to drive, and felt the repair cost was good value compared to buying a replacement vehicle at this time.
Recommended Ford Repair Service Shop in Ann Arbor, MI
Contact Abbott Street Auto Service for all your Ford service in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our Ford technicians have the skill and experience to diagnose and repair your Ford Focus problems correctly. We are Ford service specialists.
You can trust your Ford service to Abbott Street Auto Service. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, Abbott Street Auto Service also serves the surrounding areas including Pittsfield, MI; Ypsilanti, MI; Saline, MI; Dexter, MI.