You have Oompa Loompa's living in your sound symposer!

 

Thats new, have not heard that one.

 

I had a somewhat similar noise in my 15 FiST. Dealer said that it was the strut mount, and replaced it. The noise is back, though.

 

The Strut mount is thought of as a common cause of the problem. And yes, guys get it replaced like you, then also like you the noise returns.

So I'm curious does the noise occur when hitting something like a pot hole or man hole cover or is the issue when driving on on plain flat road? My suspension does definitely feel like it bottoms out on pot holes etc but I've never noticed an issue on flat road at low speed like you speak of. Any dash in cabin a/v footage?
imo the factory struts are not brilliant and have been weighing up changing them for a better setup. Koni SRT.t or BC coilovers are two on my short list.

MOFist you defiantly have the noise. Your comment "My suspension definitely feels like it bottoms out on pot holes" proves it. I may have not made it as clear as I should have. Does NOT occur on flat road, but yes hitting manhole cover, even a catseye or an expansion gap in the road and it sound like the suspension is going to fall out.

When I drive out of my driveway on to the road, a 25mm (1") drop the klunk is very loud.

 

So I'm curious does the noise occur when hitting something like a pot hole or man hole cover or is the issue when driving on on plain flat road? My suspension does definitely feel like it bottoms out on pot holes etc but I've never noticed an issue on flat road at low speed like you speak of. Any dash in cabin a/v footage?
imo the factory struts are not brilliant and have been weighing up changing them for a better setup. Koni SRT.t or BC coilovers are two on my short list.

 

I find everything on suspension/chassis is very noisy in general. Gearhshift, steering, struts, brakes squeal. I have chocked it up to the stiffness of the whole setup but the Ford dealer was not helpful at all, and honestly I also now believe that I have a really early production number. Keep meaning to check the vin#

 

I havent heard or experienced any noise as described. But I dont have many kays on it either so who knows...

 

One more thing I was going to mention is why not get another demo FiST and take it for a test drive over the same area of road.
This will at least settle your mind on if it's 'normal'.

 

I have actually done that 3 times. Once, a demo from a dealer, no noise. Second from a a fellow FIST owner in Harboard. He has the noise. Third a demo from a dealer on the gold coast whilst visiting my dad. It also has the noise.

A lot of you guys have this and think its normal. its not till you drive a car without it you realize you have a serious problem.

Chris

 

Well if the dealer thinks it's normal then I guess we're banging our heads against the wall going there. Me personally I'm hoping to go to the dealer once a year max. I mean of they can't do my oil change properly then i don't have a lot of hope for their competence.
I'm curious if light can be shed on this issue so we can rectify it ourselves if need be without fuss.

 

Don't recall ever hearing that noise on my fiST. Mine is a 2013 and has done 11,000km's

 

Running thru all thats said so far, I reckon its only 2014 models that are affected. (From March 2014 onwards).

What pedal grip surface do you have ozmale?

 

My FIST is August 2013 build.

Pedal grip is Alloy with raised black rubber round dots about 5mm in diameter.

 

Ok. My assumption has been proven as implausible. Hmmm back to square one.

 

i think mine makes this noise but only when going on reverse and it makes the sound like 2 times on the left side(drivers side)

As I said guys in my first post if you do a google search "fiesta ST suspension knock" you will get 100's or results. One forum even has an online survey, to gather details of this world wide problem.

The frustrating issue is some vehicles have no clunk at all and others sounds like the suspension is about to fall out. And its only pretty much ever on one side of the car. mostly the left side.

The consensus is its a design problem, but these cars are assembled by robots, they are all the same. Design problem does not make sense why some have the clunk and others not.

People who have this (like me) it has existed sine the car was new.

 

i think mine makes this noise but only when going on reverse and it makes the sound like 2 times on the left side(drivers side)

 

I don't have the knock you are explaining, but I do get an occasional squeak from the right front suspension that has me a little bit worried. Just passed 14,000 miles, and have an early build car.

 

This problem has never been described as a "squeak" and it (from my research) never develops. It there from brand new, and does not get worse or better over time.

Squeaks in suspension are usually a bit of grit on the shock absorber sharft. Jack up the side you think is the problem, remove the wheel and spray WD40 liberally all over the spring, spring seat and chrome shock shaft. That should fix the problem if not then its one of the suspension rubber mounts. The process to identify which one is the same. spray the rubber mounts with WD40, the squeak should go away but it will probably come back. Then you have to spray each mount one at a time till you identify the squeaky one. You can then have that one replaced or buy some anti seize molybdenum disulphide spray which will get into the rubber and stop the squeak.

 

Any chance you could get a recording of the sound? I don't have it but do notice serious crashing on a pothole..

 

So are these issues that are non US st

 

No it is US and non US alike. In fact if you do a google search you will find the Majority of posts about this noise are on US forums


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And Ford dont want a bar of it right? Me thinks its pointing to design flaw. Maybe a weight distribution issue? Some of the complaints online mention the sound goes away with a passenger riding along. Perhaps when its just the driver the lateral weight distribution is uneven enough to cause the strut to behave differently thus flexing somehow?

 

If you read a lot of the various posts on forums you will find that pretty much every suspension part has been replaced without fixing the fault. The latest thinking is something wrong with the strutt tower itself. Or, the area on top of the tower where there are a lot of parts and bits and pieces in very close proximity to the top of the tower. But really at this point no one seems to know


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I have this issue but only one point differ. It happens when the wheel is turned.
When accelerating or slowing down ( from or to a stop, normally driving), turning and hitting a crack or small pothole, a very audible thunk is heard but no feeling in the steering. Sounds like something is loose and will fall.

I did go to the dealer and they changed the upper strut mounts. The noise returned within a week

Nothing seemed loose when I changed my tires but I'm no professional mechanic. Engine mounts are all solid

I have a dealer appointment in two weeks and will try to get a tech along for a ride.



PS, I'm not from australia

 

Can you please read post #8 from "ford Service" Meghan and PM her about your noise problem. I PMed her and she was keen to help but could only help US owners. There may be an opportunity here for you to actually help many of us with this problem as this is the first time a "ford" representative has been interested to help.

Please feel free to PM me at any time.

Chris

 

Thought I had a clunk issue in the back of the car... After poking around a bit I found it to be the
spare tire cover board (cargo area floor). I used some velcro to hold the board down firmly, and
that rear noise is gone. I'm thinking about 'latching it down'. Gotta figger that one out.

I've heard no noise from up front to date, save the shift linkage clunking about. (Which Ford has found to be "normal")
The suspension does hit hard in a pot hole, but the limited travel in the suspension might be letting the the suspension
hit its stops. I have to rotate tires, so I'm going to look the stops when I do so... If it IS the stops bottoming out, it will
certainly show.

 

Although this noise does sound and is a bad as the suspension bottoming out it is not. If you place a cable tie round the shock shaft you can easily measure the amount of suspension travel you are getting as when the shock compresses the cable tie moves up than stays at that position. In most normal driving the tie never gets anywhere full travel.

Chris

 

Actually, I am not US resident but I did contact Kwasi from @FordServiceCA

I work away from home and my appointment is only on may 20th...I'll keep everyone posted

 

Actually, I am not US resident but I did contact Kwasi from @FordServiceCA

I work away from home and my appointment is only on may 20th...I'll keep everyone posted

I'm not seeing a message from you, mYsTiCfAc3. Looks like it didn't make it into our inbox. Please send us another PM with the details, including current odometer reading, VIN, dealer, your name, and your best daytime phone number. I'll look into this and see how to best assist.

Mariel

 

Is it just a knock or like a vibration felt through the cabin? I get this weird slight knock/vibration sound driving that i kidna feel through the floor... I thought it was the RMM or just coarse road

 

It has never really been described as a vibration. It is a loud low frequency thump totally out of character with the speed you would be doing.

 

Hard to describe... it feels like the whole drive train is shifting but yet... not steering feel from that noise.

It's not a "vibration" its a one time clunk

Had it prior to installation of the RMM so it's not that cause for sure

 

Is anyone who has the knock able to affix a small camera and microphone to the strut tower or inside wheel hub to record the noise?

Also, does the noise occur when on a dyno? Hard to hear yes but perhaps its possible?

 

fiesta is no lexus. at the end of the day it has been developed from the bones of a relatively low cost hatch. that being said yes the suspension is questionable for ride and comfort

 

Amen.

Imagine the complaints and groans when the FiST RS is released!

 

I think we are forgetting that the suspension and indeed car are designed and assembled by computer. The past few comments may be true if all STs had the suspension noise but not all do. Thus it must be a faulty component or assembly production spread. E.G one part too close to another


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