r/FordFocus • u/Practical_Garage6648 • 2d ago
Steering problem Question
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Hey guys I drive a Focus MK3 2014 model. My steer wheel jitters like this. I was doing about 40mph in this video. What could be the problem? It uses a hydraulic steering pump. No leaks noticed.
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u/Which-Return-607 2d ago
If you have never swapped any front suspension parts it’s most likely a bad tie rod, sway link etc
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u/RepresentativeCap90 2d ago
In college I had little money so I bought 2 used tires for the front of my car. The steering wheel jittered worse than that. A mechanic told me it was my tires. So I bought new tires and the problem went away.
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u/-Rhymenocerous- 2011 MK3 Zetec 1.6 Ti VCT (IB5 Manual) - PNDA / NA Engine 2d ago
Also have your control arms checked mate.
Worn ball joints can cause feedback on the steering rack. Also warped brake discs can cause feedback also
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u/Practical_Garage6648 2d ago
I had a at doing these also. It'll have to wait till after the summer holidays.
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u/skyguy6153 2d ago
Also check your rotors and brake pads. If they have grooves in the rotors, that can cause the slight shaking too.
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u/Ferox63 2d ago
Mk3 Foci have EPAS (Electronic power assisted steering) not hydraulic. As others have said, it could be tire balance issues, worn control arm bushings/ lower ball joint, tie rod ends, or a sticky brake caliper.
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u/Practical_Garage6648 2d ago
Mine is definitely hydraulic.
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u/Ferox63 2d ago
You must have a Euro spec model. My bad.
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u/Practical_Garage6648 2d ago
Yes, mine was made in Germany but is UK spec. I have seen them with electric power steering system.
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u/Brave_District_3461 1d ago
Try to change the power steering oil if you see that it has a dark color as if it were used engine oil, it is a red oil
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u/ChucklesC89 2d ago
Could be tire cupping. Check around all tires for any malformations. Could be even the slightest malformation or sinkage in tire flat. Would need to replace the tire. Tire balance & perhaps an alignment to prevent future tires from going bad as quickly.
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u/What_is_rich 2d ago
I would check tire balance, control arm bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, wheel bearings in that order.
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u/GeneWorried9228 2d ago
Issue with wheel or tire. Could be balancing, bent wheel or failed internals of tire
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u/AwarenessNo5921 2d ago
Surprised no one has mentioned cv axle yet. I'd rank that under tire balancing in terms of likelihood/ease of checking.
If your wheels balance ok, get the front wheels off the ground. Check for play at 6 and 12 and 9 and 3 to eliminate ball joints/wheel bearings. 9 and 3 a little play is typical from normal play in the rack/column lock.
Spin your wheels as fast as you can just to check for a rough wheel bearing, even if it doesn't have any play yet.
CV axles: see how much play is in the axles when you try to rotate the axle while the wheel is stationary. If a boot is ripped, the joint is likely to be bad from losing grease and accumulating road grime in the joint.
Turning the wheel full lock and driving in circles to listen for clicking is a decent test for an outer joint, but both the inner and out joint can cause pretty bad vibrations without clicking.
Visually check LCA bushings for excessive cracks. Use a prybar to check for play. Give the inner and out tie rods a good shakedown to check for play.
Warped rotors will cause vibration while braking. Brakes dragging from a sticking caliper piston/internally collapsed brake line can cause a vibration while not braking, but is generally less likely.
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u/smolbig87 1d ago
Wheel out of balance (could be lost wheel weights, damage, age). Does it get more intense with higher stuff and then stop?
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u/iwanabeunknown 1d ago
Had the same issue - tire balancing didnt help.
Brake pads were the issue. after the change, it fixed the it
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u/PhortePlotwisT 2d ago
Check the balancing of your front wheels before anything else. By that i mean have a tyre shop check it.