Same problem here, I just brought mine in for the wheel bearing recall and battery cable re-call. They test drove it with me to hear the rattle which appears when over small sharp bumps at avery slow coasting speed.

He thought since it had a double-knock type sound that it wasn't struts that it had to be the links you mentioned. The bushings wear out and is fairly common. I am happy to be getting both sides replaced on monday along with new headlamp lenses which were leaking moisture.

I will post to verify that it was the problem and all that they replaced to fix the noise.

Warranty almost up! Get those little annoying things fixed while you can!

Tooky
2000 SE Zetec Sedan 5SPD

 

I had a nasty clunking sound in the front suspension for awhile. I got under the car several times and whacked the sway-bar endlinks and tie rod ends to no avail. It finally turned out to be the left front sway-bar endlink ($13, replaced under warranty), but now I'm pretty sure the right one if gone as well. *Sigh* This thing's going to nickle and dime me to death...

 

Was this covered under your warranty? I have this same problem and my service advisor told me that it wasn't covered because nothing was broken. They said it was a strut plate that needed lubrication and they wanted to charge me like $300 so I said NO Thanks! Oh, by the way I'm on my extended warranty, but it covers the suspension. Maybe its time to find a new dealer. Your comments would be helpful!!

Thanks!
Mike

Edit: And I had to pay $80 just for them to look at it... oh that made me mad!

[ 03-30-2003, 12:17 PM: Message edited by: Mikey ]

 

Well I dropped my car off this morning to have the work done. I'll let you guys know what happens and if it solves the problem.

I guess I can't complain too much about my FORD service, they encouraged me to let them know everything that was bothering me before the warranty was up. And I reminded them today that i'd like 'both' left and right sway bar links replaced and they said of course, they wouldn't want me to have to pay for the second one after the warranty is up. Who woulda thought one could get some good service hey?

I'll keep you updated!

Bob
2000 SE Zetec Sedan 5SPD

 

Just to update you guys, the sway bar links I had done yesterday cleared up the clunking from my front end when going over small bumps / approaches at a very slow speed.

If your out of warranty I think the parts are real cheap to do yourself job or bring it in as it was only an hour or so of labor.

 

Yeah I have the same problem. I was hoping my suspension would just fall out so I could get the whole thing replaced.

I'm going to bring it up to them whenever I get around to doing the recall. We'll see what they say.

 

Question to gmzx3 and Tooky.

Do you know part number of these "meatier sway bar links" ? May be your's invoices have numbers?

Thanks.

 

I am not sure if the ones they put on mine are 'meatier' but here is the part number showing on my invoice.

P# YS4Z*5K484*AA LINK

Hope this helps!

Tooky

 

Thanks Tooky !

 

I checked my repair invoice and the links part number is the same as already reported. They did the struts too but never said why (warranty).

YS4Z-5K484-AA Link Assy-Frt stab bar

 

I think I have the same problem.

I can reproduce the clunking/clatter in my right front suspension by just rocking the car side to side while it's parked. Would this be consistent with bad sway bar links? Anyways, I am not too thrilled about bringing it in to the dealer to get fixed. Has anyone done the replacement of these parts themselves? How difficult a task would it be?

 

The links don't look hard to replace at all. Take off your wheel - use jackstands to be safe! Remove the link and replace. You might need to jack under the sway bar to remove tension before removing the link form the sway bar and strut. You hold the end with an allen wrench (metric I bet) and the other end is a common hex nut.

Unlike you, I could not make my noise unless I drove it and it was horrible. Last summer it went away and returned in cold weather. As the dealer changed the struts too, I can't say for sure what the real fix was. They might have wanted to put the new/improved links on....they look alot beefier.

If your warranty is over, I would change the links and go from there. They are not too expensive from what I hear.

 

Two new sway bar links later and the suspension noise seems to be gone! A big thanks to all the helpful posts on this thread. The install was basically straightforward...all you really need is a 5mm allen key and a 15mm wrench (17mm wrench optional). Like other people have found, the hardest part seems to be getting the existing, rusty nuts off. Installation of the new parts was very easy. While the new links are more "beefy" than the old ones, they actually weigh about 1 oz. less (~6.5 vs ~7.5oz).
If anyone else plans to do this installation, you may want four new nuts - part number W520203-S (Nut M10 Hex FLNG P/).

 

Hey all,
I think my car is the latest victim to suffer this problem. Besides the problem with my suspension, I’m having a problem trying to duplicate it to show my dealer. According to gmzx3 the problem “went away last summer” so I think that’s why I’m having the trouble duplicating it (I'm in AZ). I took it to my dealer and they replaced these part numbers YS4Z-3078(9)-BA which I believe is the struts only. My ride now is smoother but the noise is still there especially at night. Help! Any clever words or advice I can mention to my dealer to get them to replace my sway bar links too? Thanks in advance,

the Dirt Brown Kona in Arizona

 

I think its time for me to do this repair. Lets bump this up for others.

 

Does YS4Z-5K484-AA fix the whole problem? What are the part numbers needed? Do I need (2) YS4Z-5K484-AA ?

 

I'm trying to help out a fellow Focus with this problem. Do I suggest the links or the struts? My invoice just has that gibberish printed on it.

the Dirt Brown Kona in Arizona

 

anybody know the part numbers for the newest version of the endlinks, i think they've been "re-designed" 3 times

 

YS4Z-5K484-AA

Hey tulsafocus,
This part number is for the front stabilizer links.

the Dirt Brown Kona in Arizona