Mondeo Front Springs

[interele]

Here is the long story ....

About 3 months ago the near side front spring broke. The AA man who rescued us said to have both front done as since one had gone the other might not be far behind. This I duly did. Just over a week ago when I was reversing out of the drive there was a loud 'boing' ( for want of a better word ) Nothing seems amiss but the car had acquired a creaking noise. I popped the front wheel off and the off side spring was no longer in the saucer like thing it sits in at the bottom. It was off the back of the thing. I took it into the garage and they replaced the spring again. ( free, which was nice ( and I had the tracking done )) Yesterday it started making an odd noise over bumps at slow speed and today it has developed a squeak and a creaking noise. A quick peer in the wheel arch and it seems to have come off again, only this way slightly forward.

So it will have to go back AGAIN but can anyone offer some suggestions as to why this has happened and some pertinent questions I can ask the garage

Ta

Mal

[derekpara]

I would first ask the about the make and quality of the parts, but my guess would be poor workmanhip.

Was it a main dealer ?

[TWR]

When the new spring was installed, I presume they fitted it right up to the Bump stop in the spring seating tray? was the Strut Tightened Correctly?

[interele]

TWR .... In small words please - for me a car has 4 round black things that touch the ground and a heavy thing in the front that makes it go .... not quite ;-) but close

[interele]

No it wasn't a main dealer - it was an 'under the arches' guy. There by hangs a tail. Many years ago I had an Escort that would suddenly lose power. I took it to a main
dealer who told me it would be over £400 to fix. I took it to a seriously 'Eastenders style under the arches' garage. They said £20 cash and come back in 30 mins. It finally died of gearbox failure 15 years later. They probably went around the corner and nicked a carburettor of a car in the Tescos car park ;-)

[TWR]

Where the Spring sits in the Tray, there is an area within there that the spring can not spin around, at the Top of the strut there is a Rubber mount again with a stopper, In my mind If the Top has not been tightened to the right Torx the spring will move, have a look under the Bonnet ( Hood) to the top of the strut, you will see 3 Nuts, are they tight.

[interele]

TWR - Ta - I will investigate tomorrow

[tonyav]

Mal, did you have the top mount bearings changed when you had your broken springs replaced ( broken mondeo springs very common problem ), if so and they are genuine ford top mount bearings they have to be aligned correctly. It's the only thing that I can think of that might cause your problem. Also knackered top bearings will squeak and groan.

[interele]

tonyav - no, just the springs

[tonyav]

They are the right springs for your car aren't they !.

[interele]

Many thanks to everyone

Seized top bearing !

Ta

Mal