Evening all
Recently bought 55-reg Mondeo TDCi 130 Zetec, 5-dr hatch. Very pleased with it except for one thing - an unpleasant intermittent noise coming from the area of the near-side front wheel.
The best way to describe the noise is as a sharp metallic clonk or knock, suggestive of bits of metal that are under considerable load shifting around when they shouldn't.
Usually occurs on right-hand turns on uneven surfaces, such as mini roundabouts or side turnings with odd camber - anything where the nsf wheel is subject to any sort of lateral force. The noise can also occur when travelling in a straight line, if the car hits a bad bump - and again, where the surface causes lateral force on the wheel.
Car used to belong to one of the big rental firms and given that the nsf tyre is rather newer than the osf one, I am inclined to think that one of their customers might have met a kerb rather hard at some point. The supplying dealer (a very helpful low-mileage used Ford specialist near here) has already had it back once to try and fix it, and improved matters a little by tightening up various subframe mounts and so on, but I am starting to wonder if it is a CV joint or some steering component that needs attention. It is booked in again for another go, but it would help me save time when I go back to them if I had some idea of what might be the cause. Can anyone help? I'm anxious to get this sorted as it's starting to spoil my enjoyment of what is in all other respects probably the best car I've owned.
TIA.
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Morning,
Mine's an 05-plate Mondeo TDCi 130 LX 5-dr hatch. It's got brand new Michelin Pilots all round and 26,000 on the clock. It came from a rental firm. I have not yet taken it to the garage, as it has only recently started to do this. I get the effect when pulling out of T-junctions in either direction; a few passengers increases the likelihood of hearing the noise.
Thanks
Richard
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I had the exact same symptom on my 306 and it was a balljoint.
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We have had a couple of Mondeos with this concern. Tightenen all the front suspension bolts esp crossmember has cured
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Thanks all. The dealer has already tightened various bits (I believe subframe mounts) but I will mention this when it goes in next Tuesday.
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Get them to check the anti-roll bar bushes as well.
It could also be a dodgy wishbone bush, these clunk over bumps and would possibly account for the new tyre, as the wear will have been significantly higher on that side.
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I have an 04 Zetec S Mondeo and one of the many faults I have experienced, this sounds like one of them.There is a metal bracket that runs between the front suspension subframe and the chassis and is attached by, from memory three bolts. They were all loose but after an application of thread lock and a torque wrench, the problem went away and has never returned. Sorry my description is not very good but when you look under the front of your car you will see what I mean.
Hope that helps
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Thanks for all the replies - the first time the supplying dealer (a local independent) had a look at this problem, they did indeed tighten up all the various bolts as suggested above, but that didn't solve it.
They have now had another look and have identified the cause as being the steering rack and pinion. It will now be going to a main dealer for remedialwork to be done as this is quite clearly a Ford warranty issue. Further update to follow...
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Update as promised:
Main dealer has now had a look and has identified and fixed the problem.
It transpires that one of the exhaust brackets near the front was out of alignment, meaning that the exhaust was too close to, and thus able to knock against, the ns track rod. I took the car round the same bumpy car park as I used to demonstrate the fault to the mechanic, and it didn't make the noise, so touch wood...
Was also much impressed by efficiency and helpfulness of dealer concerned - Lifestyle Ford in Horsham, West Sussex. Gold star for customer service there.
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Good to hear it's sorted out and you received good service, always nice to hear about.
Wonder if the exhaust/brackets took a slight bump at some time whilst going over a speed bump or something similar, guess we'll never know. The main thing is it's sorted out and has been thorougly checked over, so now you can enjoy your driving again.
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