My 2001 Focus makes like a %26quot;hollow%26quot; front suspension noise when either the street is not flat smooth or when in potholes. Would it be due to worn out front shock absorbers ?
When changing them, do I need to re-align the front tires ?|||It could be one of many things,
A) Front Struts
B) Front Strut Mounts
or
C) Sway Bar Links
You will not have to re-align the front tires UNLESS you mess the the tie rod ends, there is only camber adjustment on the Foci, you can remove the struts/strut mount and spring by removing the ball joint from the bottom of the wheel hub, loosening the axle shaft nut, gently hammer the axle shaft out of the hub with the nut still on the end of the hub to prevent mushroom effect on the axle threads, and loosen the 3 nuts underneath the hood on top of each strut tower, and the bolts in the bottom of the strut that attach to the knuckle. The strut/ spring/ strut mount will come out in one big unit. MAKE SURE you use a spring compressor to compress the springs before you try to remove the strut mounts, to change the strut cartridges.
IF you have ANY DOUBTS... GO TO AN ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN|||they are called struts and cost 200 to400 dollars.realine the front end when done|||Yes that is definately caused by leaking struts. There is no oil left in the strut to pressurize them. Replace and align.|||No! check the sway bar links. They are very common for failure. To they are attatched the strut on one end and the sway bar on the other. Where the attach there is a ball socket that wears out.
