Removal and installation, disassembly and assembly of the front shock absorber strut (for use on the Ford Focus II model)

Shock absorber struts directly affect the comfort and safety of driving a car. Therefore, if a deterioration in controllability or other symptoms of unit failure are detected, the car owner should make repairs as soon as possible. Delaying replacement may result in an emergency situation due to loss of control over the vehicle.

The front axle of the Ford Focus 2 has different right and left shock absorber struts. They have different catalog numbers, but have similar prices. So, the right original rack comes with article number 1619269, and the left one - 1619274. The price for an original standard part is 6-8 thousand rubles.

Stand 1619269

After the restyling was carried out, improved ones were added to the standard racks. They also have a different part number depending on which side of the front axle they are intended for. The right unit has article number 1619281, and the left one - 1619283. The price of the improved rack ranges from 6,500 to 9,000 rubles.

Improved stand 1619281

Kits of original shock absorber struts are also available for sale. This set allows you to replace nodes on both sides. A set with article number 1919323 is for sale. Its cost starts from 10 thousand rubles.

Catalog number and cost of good front shock absorber struts for Ford Focus 2 from third-party manufacturers

Due to the high cost of original front shock absorber struts, car owners are inclined to purchase products from third-party manufacturers. The tables below provide a list of brands that have proven themselves best in Focus 2.

Table - Good analogues of the right front shock absorber struts

Table - Recommended analogues of the front left original shock absorber struts

Article number and cost of good analogs of original rear shock absorber struts for Ford Focus 2

Not wanting to overpay for the original Focus 2 pillars, car owners are resorting to searching for alternative options. The table below presents the best analogues from third-party manufacturers, which show themselves to be no worse than their own units in both quality and performance characteristics.

Table - Well-proven analogues

Reasons for failure of the Ford Focus 2 shock absorber

Failure may result from:

1. Poor quality stem material.
2. Low quality oil seal.
3. Violation of the installation and technological process at the service center.
4. Leakage of working fluid from shock-absorbing structures.
5. Boot failure.
6. Constant loads associated with driving on bad roads.

This is not a complete list of problems that every driver may encounter. A sign of wear on the rear shock absorber support of a Ford Focus 2 can be considered a dull impact on the car body at the moment of hitting a road bump.

Required tools for DIY replacement

For the replacement to be successful, you must prepare the following tools in advance.

Table - Tools required to replace the front strut

Spring puller

Tools and materials

Replacing the rear shock absorbers of Ford Focus 2 is carried out by specialists from service centers and service stations on lifts. You can replace failed sets yourself at the inspection pit.

In the latter case, there is an opportunity to assert oneself and save money, but there is no guarantee of quality. Therefore, the owner himself determines his choice.

To replace the rear shock absorbers on a Ford Focus 2, in addition to new devices, you will need a set of tools:

1. Shoes that fix the wheels.
2. Screwdriver Set.
3. Several jacks of different designs: “frog” and “trapezoid”.
4. Safety supports for jacks.
5. Spring ties.
6. Set of wrenches.
7. For processing nuts and bolts, use WD-40.

Additional recommendations for replacing front struts

To reduce the risk of ABS malfunction, it is recommended to blow out the plug socket with compressed air before assembly.

Plug

If it is impossible to unscrew the upper fasteners, the bolts should be cut off.

Cutting off the bolt head

To facilitate the removal and installation of the rack, after wedging the fastening with a chisel, it is recommended to insert a ten-ruble coin into the resulting gap.

Using a coin to facilitate removal and installation of the stand

There are special marks on the stand. During assembly, you need to make sure that they are on the same side.

Tags

Important points when replacing suspension springs

When repairing the front suspension, you need to take into account the specifics of replacing the front springs: if you do not follow some rules, complications may arise in the future, for example, you will have to re-do the work or make another purchase. Characteristic specifics of this repair:

• The front springs should be replaced in pairs and try to match them according to stiffness and height. Almost all parts are marked with a paint mark; it is necessary that the paint color of both springs matches;
• The service life of the spring largely depends on the performance of the bump stop and shock absorber, so the condition of these parts also needs to be monitored. If the bump stop is missing or is in poor condition, it will not be able to soften the impact, for example, if a wheel falls into a hole, the spring may break;
• When purchasing spare parts, you should not buy the cheapest parts; defects often come across here. It's better to spend a little more money, but you won't have to redo the work in the future. The most ideal option is to purchase original spare parts, or if you buy non-original ones, then from a well-known manufacturer with a good reputation;
• When removing and installing a spring, it is necessary to use ties; all traditional methods of tightening spring coils often lead to injury.

Ties must also be purchased of high quality, and it is better to try not to use Chinese tools at all. With Chinese ties, the threads quickly pull out, and the metal is of such poor quality that the special device may simply not be able to withstand compression of the coils, and the spring will fly off to the side. What the consequences may be is clear without further ado; you should take care of your health and take care of your safety.

Which shock absorbers are best to buy?

We answer the question - original kits. Although many people use analog products. The original Ford front shock absorber, located on the right side on a standard suspension, comes with article number 1619269. The left one is 1619274. The original Ford Focus front shock absorber strut with improved suspension is the product located on the right, with article number 1619281. The left one goes under number 1619283.

The rear designs are different. It all depends on the car body:

Installation racks are also divided into right and left designs.

Front and rear designs are:

As already mentioned, many owners of a second focus prefer cheaper analog products, which, by the way, are not inferior in quality to more expensive original kits.

Shock absorber functions

These are key elements in the suspension, which are largely responsible for driving safety. As you know, during braking, acceleration and turns, the forces acting on the car tend to overturn it. In such a situation, the main load falls on only 2 wheels, and the rest actually lose contact with the road. This is prevented by shock absorbers, which exert a counter force, further pressing the wheel against the road surface. The second function is to absorb road irregularities. You may not even feel small bumps and holes if the shock absorbers effectively cope with their task.

Garage diagnostic methods

Without special equipment, it's difficult to pinpoint the problem, but drivers can check their shock absorbers in several ways that don't require special tools or money. The first and most accessible method is visual inspection. Make sure that there are no oil leaks on the shock absorbers and that all boots are completely intact. You can wipe the structure and look at its condition after 1-2 days of driving. If the oil appears again, the seal is broken and repair or replacement is required. Additionally, examine the wear of the tires. The appearance of an uneven “pattern” of wear most often indicates problems with the suspension.

The second method known in driving circles is rocking the car. Its essence is quite simple: you need to swing the car from one corner and monitor the reaction. If the car swings by inertia for too long or, conversely, stops almost immediately, then this is definitely a problem with the shock absorber. This way the driver will be able to determine in which specific direction the part failed. Pay attention to unusual knocking, clicking, grinding or clattering noises.

How to bet

To carry out the work you will need a key for 10, 13, 15.

After purchasing the spacers, you can proceed to their installation, the algorithm of actions is as follows (see photo below):

1. Raise the left front side of the car with a jack.
2. Place a stump or other object of the required height to secure the car.
3. Using a 15 key, unscrew the wipers.
4. Remove the frill (the plastic part in front of the car windshield).
5. Unscrew the wide spacer with a TORX wrench (both sides).
6. Unscrew another reinforcement strut on the driver's side.
7. Unscrew the top fastening of the rack with a wrench from the desired side.
8. Lift the rack from below using a crowbar or piece of reinforcement.
9. Insert the gasket and align it.
10. Put everything back in place (except the frill). When tightening the screws, try to ensure that the fastening is done evenly.
11. Lower the car and measure the ground clearance after making changes.
12. Do the same work with the second rack.
13. Install the frill.
14. Take measurements. When installing spacers by three centimeters, the ground clearance increased by almost seven. After the first ride, re-testing may show slightly less gain.

Signs of a damaged shock absorber

Almost all drivers know the standard behavior of their iron horse, so any deviations are immediately noticed. We recommend paying attention to the following symptoms that indicate problems with shock absorbers or other components in the suspension:

• excessive body sway when cornering and a noticeable deterioration in handling;
• the appearance of skidding and strong roll when cornering;
• obvious “sagging” during acceleration and braking;
• increased sensitivity when hitting holes and potholes;
• the appearance of shaking and vibration;
• the appearance of leaks in the shock absorber area;
• visible deformations;
• the appearance of extraneous noise in the suspension, for example, squeaks when turning or braking;
• accelerated or uneven tire wear.

The causes of these problems can be very diverse. The first and most important thing is bad roads. The higher the speed of the car when it hits a pothole, the more damage the shock absorbers will receive. As a result, the service life is reduced many times over, forcing you to buy new parts.

Dirt, dust and moisture pose a hazard. If the protective elements become unusable, then small particles fall on the metal, causing corrosion and further destruction of the structure of the entire shock absorber. This can be prevented by regularly replacing boots and similar elements.

Types of shock absorbers

When purchasing new parts, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the existing classification of these parts. There are three main types of shock absorbers on the market:

• Oily. Cheap, simple and relatively reliable models. Installed on most cars. The disadvantage is that the oil foams when exposed to increased loads.
• Gas. They provide not only oil, but also gas, separated by a piston. The latter prevents oil foaming, ensuring shock absorber reliability and high-quality absorption of impact vibrations.
• Gas-oil. They consist of two cylinders, the upper part of which is filled with nitrogen. Due to this, optimal pressure is created and the performance of the unit is increased. They have maximum service life, but make the suspension much stiffer.

On the market you can find products of each type for the Ford Focus 2 car.

In what cases will replacement be required?

You can install new suspension elements in several cases:

• The installed shock absorbers are damaged or too worn. These parts do not last forever and, like consumables, have a limited service life. You can ride on old shock absorbers, but it is recommended to install new ones.
• Not happy with the stiffness of the suspension. If you want the smoothest and most comfortable ride possible, or for the suspension to cope more effectively with hitting potholes, then purchasing new shock absorbers is the solution.
• Additional increase in the cost of the car. This is a minor but important factor. With such modernization, you can safely increase the cost of the car, especially if you have installed branded shock absorber models that are much superior to standard ones.

Only professional diagnosticians can say reliably about the need to replace shock absorbers. Drivers can only use garage diagnostic methods and monitor the car’s behavior on the road. We will talk about this in more detail below.

Replacement features

The new support bearing must be placed in the old place, paying attention to where it is turned. Its upper part has a small protrusion, which should coincide with the place on the installation site. The spindle of the part is mounted inside the hole.

The rotating part of the bearing with another protrusion needs to be turned. It is important to put the rack stop on correctly. It should be the thick part facing the support bearing, where it snaps into place. Its narrow part should be turned down towards the rack.

Replacing the support bearing itself does not take much time and effort. The greatest attention requires the removal and disassembly of the rack, as well as their reinstallation. To do this, you need to correctly install the gaskets, travel stop, etc. The rack must be assembled in the reverse order, after installing it in the socket on the body.

After the replacement is completed and all parts are in place, it is necessary to perform a check. If noises and other sounds disappear while driving, then you have done everything correctly and you can safely operate the Ford Focus without thinking about comfort and safety.

It should be noted that if you drive carelessly, the frequency of suspension repairs will increase. One of the elements that will suffer first is the support bearing, and its poor condition can cause failure of more important and expensive suspension components. It is necessary to periodically check the chassis approximately every 20,000 km. Also, diagnostics will not be superfluous after strong impacts or long trips on bad roads.

Removing and installing the support bearing

First you need to clamp the stand in a vice, then remove the spring. This is done using several pullers that look like this.

When installing a new element, it is important not to confuse its position. On Fords, the top of the journal bearing has a protrusion. They need to turn the cup in the beveled direction. The spindle is placed in a special hole. Next, rotate the rotating part of the bearing and put on the strut stopper. The latter must be secured with a latch. The limiter is installed with the thick end towards the bearing.