If this car's a-rocking, will I be spending a lot of money, or crash and die on the highway?

June 22, 2007 8:27 AM

Why does my car make knocking sounds and get all swervy?

I'm going to be bringing my car to a shop tomorrow, but I want to try and get an idea of what the problem is. I'm very car repair savvy when it comes to the engine, but nothing else.

My apologies if I'm not explaining this clearly:

2002 Ford Focus ZX5. No accidents with this car (it has been towed several times). When I hit a bump, no matter how small, I hear noises from (what I imagine to be) the wheel wells, and the car gives what feels like an unhealthy rock/sway. I can describe the noise best as "crunkly metal". Or maybe even a heavy knocking sound (NOT coming from the engine). My brother mentioned it might cracked springs?

When I'm driving at higher speeds (30+mph) and hit bumps, it feels like I'm going to lose control for 3 seconds after. It also feels like the body is not fully in sync with the wheels. (I probably need an alignment, but I feel like there is a bigger issue at play here)

I know this isn't Car Talk, but I'm hoping to help determine what the problem might be and, more importantly, determine a rough cost so I don't get swindled. I'm 3 months away from paying my leetle frend off, and starting to wilt at the though of losing him. Any help would be most appreciated.

posted by Cat Pie Hurts to travel & transportation (20 comments total)

Only a marginal shade tree mechanic here, but it sounds like you have ball-joint, tie-rod, strut issues, or some combination.
posted by Pressed Rat at 8:31 AM on June 22, 2007

You probably have a broken control arm or something. It shouldn't be too expensive or difficult for the mechanic. My rough guess would be $300 tops for something like that, hopefully less.
posted by knave at 8:35 AM on June 22, 2007

When was the last time you changed your brakes? Your rotor (sp?) could be wrapped. Take off your tire and inspect. It's really easy if you have disc brakes. Also, lube up the front end.. you can get the grease and the grease gun at any auto part store. Look under the front of the car for little "nipples" you can plug the gun into.
posted by triolus at 8:53 AM on June 22, 2007

It sounds like an important suspension component is broken, as mentioned above. It might be cheap, but if it is a spring or other piece that isn't designed to be replaced it could get expensive. Unfortunately the alternative is losing control and wrecking the car with much worse consequences, so it is good that you are getting it fixed soon.
posted by TedW at 8:58 AM on June 22, 2007

triolus - I had new brakes and rotors installed just about a year ago (I've put about 5k miles on since).
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:00 AM on June 22, 2007

I'd check it out anyway, cat pie. Poorly installed brakes can warp the rotor very quickly, and a lot of shops do very poor jobs with brakes.
posted by triolus at 9:03 AM on June 22, 2007

A broken strut would produce many of the symptoms you mention, but other parts can be damaged if you've driven this for any length of time this way. A low end replacement strut assembly is about $40 (with OEM grade struts running about $70 each, and "performance" struts at about $170 each), but struts, like shocks, are always replaced in pairs, to maintain even handling characteristics, and you may need strut mounting kits, too, if there is damaged mounting hardware. So $100 to cheap it out on parts, but more than 4 hours labor to replace both sides, and do the front end alignment that is required when struts are replaced. Probably more like $500 - $600 if it's just struts, and you use OEM grade parts, which is what most shops are going to recommend, minimum. It's possible you also have missing or damaged bump stops on that side, as well as anti-roll bar hardware, or control arm bushings. You could even have a bent control arm, although that usually produces so much steering pull, you don't drive the car. But be prepared for bad news. Things deteriorate quickly when the strut in a MacPherson suspension goes audibly bad.

You may have also damaged a tire on the side that is having the problem, so that the car may have noticeable vibration at speed, unless you replace the tire. That could have been caused by the jolt that damaged the suspension, or just by driving with an undamped suspension. If you go one step at a time, you may be taking it back for related fixes a few times.
posted by paulsc at 9:04 AM on June 22, 2007

I had that on a Ford Escort and it was broken tie-rods.
posted by headspace at 9:17 AM on June 22, 2007

I want to echo what TedW said. Sounds like a suspension component is loose/broken and continued driving can cause more damage and or cause you to wreck it. Also paulsc is probably right with the strut scenario. How many miles are on it?
posted by Big_B at 9:19 AM on June 22, 2007

I once had a loose brake caliper that gave similar symptoms.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 9:44 AM on June 22, 2007

Interesting that it's been towed several times. The sort of damage paulsc and TedW are imputing to your car is just what can happen when careless tow truck drivers 'drop' your front end abruptly instead of lowering it slowly as they ought to do. Unless you drive long and hard, your car's too young to have problems like this without having experienced some extraordinary event.
posted by jamjam at 9:52 AM on June 22, 2007

Just had struts replaced, sounds similar to the symptoms I had... cost was $900, but that was in Chicago, and an emergency replacement.
posted by edgeways at 10:04 AM on June 22, 2007

*sigh* I think this may be worse than I thought.
Thanks for all the help, everyone.

Now I just need to figure out if I bring it to the dealer, a chain shop or a local shop.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 10:19 AM on June 22, 2007

Due to some known coil spring defects, Ford provides an extended warranty on 2000-2003 Focuses. I think it's 80,000 miles. It covers the spring only, and not any other part of the strut. Any dealer should be able to take a look and tell you if it is a warranty repair.
posted by indyz at 10:30 AM on June 22, 2007

"Now I just need to figure out if I bring it to the dealer, a chain shop or a local shop."

Try plugging your zip code into Click & Clack's "Mechanic's Files" (lower right 1/3 of the Web page) for info from other listener's to NPR's Saturday "Cartalk" show, about shops in your area.
posted by paulsc at 11:07 AM on June 22, 2007

I know this isn't Car Talk, but I'm hoping to help determine what the problem might be and, more importantly, determine a rough cost so I don't get swindled.

Funny, but you are like, less than 9 miles from the Magliozzis' garage! Why not give them a shout? With the symptoms you describe, they'll probably (rightly) advise you to get it towed to wherever you take it. Lastly, if we're making bets -- my money is on a cracked frame. Do let us know the verdict, won't you?
posted by Oddly at 11:26 AM on June 22, 2007

Fixed link.
posted by Oddly at 11:28 AM on June 22, 2007

I missed this earlier, but definitely get it to the garage, and try and avoid the highway or any other high speed driving. I've been in a car with a tie-rod that snapped at speed on the Interstate, it was QUITE hair-raising. With traffic around, you could be asking for serious trouble.
posted by pupdog at 1:28 PM on June 22, 2007

We had similar symptoms a while ago; it was the control arm.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 3:15 PM on June 22, 2007

Just wanted to update:
Got it back from the shop today.
Broken right swaybar.
Cost: $170
Thanks for the help everyone!
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 3:09 PM on June 29, 2007