Decided not To Scrap the Focus, Replaced the Trailing arm Bush

After being contacted by a man from the ford focus owners club who noted the interior trim in our focus was very rare we decided to fix the car up

[@Jim_M_75]

Really pleased to see you didn't scrap her, we really need more people willing to make a small profit on the older Ford and Vauxhalls to keep them on the road. Scrapping almost perfect cars because of tiny margins ends up taking away too many motors and we play right into the hands of government and the eco warriors. If I had her I'd have the car straight in for a fresh test, other than the dreaded emissions question it looks a good run about for someone. Cheers for doing the noble deed Alan, would give you 100 likes if I could.

[@st200ol]

Problem is when its sold to the new owner. A lot treat them like washing machines and don't get things fixed between MOT's and then when its MOT time and it needs a couple of tyres, brake pads and maybe a new spring so maybe a £600 bill they just scrap them and get another 1 or 2 year car. No way to stop the inevitable I'm afraid. Also please don't call us EV drivers "eco warriors" I mainly drive an EV because it a cheap lease and it costs me around a fiver to cover 240 miles. No brainer as they say.

[@Jim_M_75]

@@st200ol Good points made mate, btw the ecowarrior isn't aimed at leccy car owners, it's aimed at the type who haven't even took a driving test, you know the just stop oil type who have to tell the world how naughty we all are. Cars, like oil, if gone today would see the world we know implode.

[@st200ol]

@@Jim_M_75 I have no idea why JSO folk do what they do it just annoys everyone and causes more pollution. The problem is how are we supposed to protest things these days, nobody listens and that goes for the ULEZ and 20mph speed limit protesters too. So people resort to destroying cameras and blocking roads.

[@rileychu4489]

fighting for my life to keep my zx5...rusted out subframe mounts. im gunna try to weld in something

[@jamescollins2798]

The Focus is a car that grows and grows on you. Such a pleasure to drive.

[@channex8179]

I'm an ex Ford Master Technician and at my old dealership "which was stuck in the 1950s" we didn't have half of the specialist tools on the rack required. We did those in situ we used to cut them out with an air saw then use a piece of threaded bar with a washer on one end locked on with two nuts and a large socket on the other end with another large washer and a nut on the other end to press the new one back in. We used the same tool on Fiesta rear axle bushes too it was quite quick too!

[@Matt-pc5nb]

I was always told to torque up the suspension bolts with the car on the ground so as to make sure the bushes were not under any twist beforehand.

[@frankiepitt9135]

Do you do everything you’re told to?

[@jimmyjt16]

I'm glad you're saving it Alan. These mk1's deserve to be saved. They're a dieing breed now. Once a car on every street corner.

[@teatimetel174]

780k registered in uk now less than 70k left and disappearing daily.

[@johnchincotta1qwdb15]

Saved from death row.Good going Alan

[@alancutler2686]

Well done Alan, great to see the old car resurrected, breaks my heart to see them scrapped. Great video, keep them coming.

[@Stop..carry-on]

Glad you saved the focus it was too good to scrap being an auto

[@philipwright7646]

Glad you've saved this Focus after what you said about it! It will be a great little run around and serve someone very well. Really good work.👌

[@asdeaff]

Thanks for bringing us along for the ride Alan ; all the Focus boys watching will now be thinking does my handrake mech sit on that bump stop ???

[@garyrawson7549]

Alan so glad you saved the Focus. I had one and it was a brilliant little car. Getting very rare now 👍👍👍

[@teatimetel174]

there was 780k registered in the uk and less than 70k left.2000 plus being scrapped monthly so yeah getting rare.numbers from focus preservation group.i have three mk1s myelf brilliant cars.a rare tddi 2001 saloon a 2003 tdci zetec estate and a 2003 sport tdci in ink blue.sadly i just sold my 2002 tddi estate 49k one owner from new.

[@christopherland4240]

The MK1 Ford Focus, a real gamechanger for Ford after the Escort. I remember them coming out and feeling the difference from the Escort, it was like a spaceship. Brilliant cars, far better than the Astra ever knew how to be. Glad you saved it, there are still a few years of life in it.

[@mlze20]

It’s great to see a old car come back to life, I am actually looking for a cheap little runaround for my wife, she only has a automatic licence, so this would do well for her and she only does 10miles a week so would easily last another 20 years 😅

[@ericpinkney384]

great job saving the Focus. my question is where's the guard on the angle grinder? It's imperative to have it on when it is in use as it would protect you and others nearby in the event of a catastrophic disc failure. Where I work here in Alberta Canada at Suncor oilsands this modification would be a life saving rule violation and result in a severe OH&S fine and possible job termination. Without the guard you are basically holding a live granade with the pin pulled. Please be safe and keep the great content coming. Cheers from Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada

[@k.leeuwenburgh8844]

Well done. This lovely car deserves to be saved.

[@grahameleslie]

had my 'w' reg ford focus mk1 zetech ghia estate for 8 yrs now...love it..200,000 miles and still sweet as a nut

[@johnblowergmail]

Great to see you're saving this car as like you I felt it was worth saving. Your videos are so informative. Again thank you.

[@connorbamber3614]

Just watched the other focus video and I’m so glad you decided to save it. It deserves another chance at life!

[@Steve-bo6ht]

It's a lovely Ford focus Ghia Alan really glad it was not scrapped

[@EngineerLewis]

Interesting story behind this car and as you say , thanks to the Focus Owners Club chap who knew his stuff! 😅

[@johnmackay5784]

Good job, looking forward to seeing more of this Focus 👏 👍

[@PaweMusia]

angle grinder with no safety guard - like a boss! like Real Pros Alan :) thanks!

[@madfrank7972]

Well worth saving the mk1 focus still is the most reliable of all focuses. Well done

[@alan4x]

glad i did, cheers madfrank

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Great video and a great way of sorting a tired rear suspension on a Mk1, probably the most thorough. You can change the trailing arm bush with the correct tool in-situ if doing that job alone but always best to do the job the way you've done it in the long-term. Thhose rear bolts are infamously bad for seizing in the bushes once this job is done thats one of few expensive jobs a Mk1 will need 100% if it hasnt already done so today. Great to see another mk1 being given another chance even if for a while longer :)

[@richie674]

Had exactly the same problem with my my 2004 Mk1 focus , both rear trailing arm bushes had completely disintegrated in 2015 so that 03 plate has done very well , again seized bolts causing rear arms to be replaced, it’s one of those jobs that leads to another problem then to another problem & so on . Since purchasing our newer Fords , I immediately managed to undo every bolt on the rear subframe as the cars were only a few years old & remove each bolt one by one & use copper grease on the bolt & re-torqued them all back up to prevent this problem happening again .

[@flycorvus]

Wise choice, pal. Copper grease, no more problems.

[@nitronixasd]

Loved watching this. The old Focus' are really good reliable cars and the parts are very cheap if you shop around. Ive an old Mk2 and apart from the standard ageing issues (rust) its a reliable car and also ULEZ compliant. Tax nobbles you a bit but I'd rather a car you can fix for cheap than something that needs a scientist to look at. Had my trailing arm bushes done not long after I got mine 3 years ago. Look after a car and it looks after you. I need something newer now but very very reluctant to get rid of it. I have that trim in my car, its like driving an old Country Lion coach. Not the fastest car but comfy. Always be grateful for what you have, something has to be said for the E word (Effort). The new world has become too disposable these days :)

[@Rs500nutter]

Great job as always Alan and a very good spot with the rare interior indeed and most certainly gone to a good home 👍these car's are get fewer by the day and whilst parts are still readily available its worth fixing for sure 😁😁😁

[@stevenc5227]

You made that work look easy, this would be a great car to use as a run around for the garage, or in an emergency. Doesn't matter if it sits around, not losing any value from it.

[@jbbumpkin]

Like you, I had the same cutting disc issues when doing the rear upper wishbones on my `58 Discovery 3. I then saw someone using a reciprocating saw to cut through the bolts. Much quicker and safer as long as you use carbide blades.

[@thefloorkiller]

Glad you saved this, Johnny gets cash has just done one ready for sale on his channel, same age Focus Ghia only a manual

[@grahamevans9606]

Well done Alan. A future classic saved.

[@herridge819]

I still think MK 1.5 Focus are brilliant cars and had loads over the years. Pleased you have taken the time to repair it.

[@byronmills5952]

It deserved to live on - happy days! 👍👍

[@Matt-go7ss]

It lives! I'm quite happy about that 👍

[@patkelly7999]

Great job Alan, another car saved from Madame Thrash Heap for another while👌👍🙏🙂

[@andyarmstrong1493]

Nice one, Alan. Very watchable video, really enjoyable.

[@martinwhite7876]

Glad you are going to sort it out. All the best

[@vicoutdoors1973]

Excellent job on saving the focus Alan 👍👍

[@michaeljohnson1006]

Nice job Alan! My brother had to re-fit his Laguna rear suspension arm bushes, after the tyre place jacked the car up on the arms and separated the rubber from the bushes. The bushes are in vertical on that so stop side to side movement. And the bolts are about 200mm long and would only come undone with an impact gun.

[@chasmcl42]

Brilliant content Alan, you have encouraged me to get on with my anti roll bar bushes on my connect, and get the guard put back on the angle grinder 👍👍

[@malcelwell7209]

Great job Alan I had a Ford focus est tdi for 7 years Great car never let me down once, brings back a lot memorys When serviceing it 😂👌👍

[@alan4x]

cheers malc

[@shaunleonard8146]

Hi Alan, really happy you did.

[@nigelheasman6356]

Well done Alan nice little run around for someone there, love the way you explain as you work on cars really helpful, so easy just to throw these cars away rather than spend a little bit of time to keep them on the road, not everyone can afford thousands to buy cars 🙌, keep up the good work mate 👍

[@bartoszk4812]

Nice job saving it Alan. I have the same dilemma with my Micra K11, so little value in car but there's just something about it, that makes me and missus keep it going every year and push it through annual test. 😊

[@sparky1543]

They grow on you mate, not like these modern piles of junk that will be scrapped in 10 years.

[@TB1M1]

Nissan is garbage after 2000 saw a few x trails and qashqais piling up at the junkyards, rust around windscreen. They don't hold up like the Japanese build Nissans and toyotas from the 1990's. Firstly the clearcoat and paint quality is poor, and also the metal gauge is much thinner.

[@paulmoore6345]

Look forward to seeing it progress. Good save

[@davidmccausland9063]

Excellent video.... really well done 👏

[@steveriley5839]

I've got a brand new set of control arms in my shed. baged and labelled for this car. you can have them if ya want no good to me

[@teatimetel174]

if alan doesnt take them id be interested. i have three mk1s and have full set of front arms etc and back ones would be puy on my sport tdci.

[@thephilpott2194]

Brave decision. Conventional wisdom is if you see a rusty one walk away as there are better ones still out there, but good on you if you're going to go in head first. You have at least made me feel better about my 2001 Ghia saloon. It's nowhere near as bad. Steel petrol filler pipe is a worry, expensive and rust prone. Would be a total pain to fabricate from scratch. Wobbly gear lever fixed by inserting a shaved down vauxhall roll bar end bolt bush into the actuator swivel on the bellhousing. A new assy from ford was silly money....bush not available on it's own.

[@stephenbirds5169]

Mondeo Monny Muff Man. Keep it up Alan, best videos, Thanks

[@budj7898]

Alan, if you haven't already get a cheap sawzall and use the good blades. Cut through bolts like butter and a bit safer than the grinder 👍👍

[@sparky1543]

Enjoyed the first video and I was a “keeper”😂 enjoyed this one also, well done for saving it Alan.😎

[@filmbluff99]

Good decision, and it made an interesting video.😀🇬🇧

[@paultaylor9652]

Now that is what you call an excellent video, a great big 👍 from me.

[@markmurphy9280]

Awesome, so glad you saved it.

[@malcolmbriggs4281]

My sons first car was a mk 1 diesel great driving car,he had it for years.

[@miketherefurbisher8000]

Fantastic content Alan!! "Thanks"

[@urglegurgle5807]

Brings back memories of mine. Sadly scrapped courtesy of a truck deciding to turn in a car park and pushing it through a wall. Glad no one was inside the focus.

[@nigelfenlon9035]

Great save mate!

[@paulprescott7913]

Thats brilliant Alan.

[@HA05GER]

Glad to see this saved we had a 2002 on motability and the second owner has had it since. It had a horifically mot fail this year and assumed it would be scrapped checked it again and it has passed must absolutely love that car. These mk1s handle so well aswell my mate had one as his first car hes a pretty good karter so he can drive and coukd sling that thing round the back roads touching a ton driving with one hand while having a chat, very impressive for a family car. Plus the beauty of ford parts are plentiful and super cheap. Hence me and the Mrs daily fords. .

[@MohdjesriOthman-oi1id]

Nice work mate, you Alan has good job to save this car

[@davidriley9194]

Glad it’s not going to heaven!😊

[@BigPaul62]

Glad you saved it Alan.

[@M.R.C.]

Really enjoyed that video, glad the focus gets to live a bit longer.

[@SammyInnit]

I had one for years; it was my uncles from new and my brother had it before me. Decided to scrap it purely because it cost more to insure than I could have ever sold it for. Burned oil like no tomorrow, electric windows had failed, one I had to use sealer to keep the window closed lol. I miss it but it was more trouble that it was worth.

[@rasmadrak]

I did this on a MK1 a few years ago using only hand tools... it was hell on earth. Me and the missus got to work in a rent-a-garage/diy hall and it took forever. After a few hours the owners came and said "we're closing in a few minutes" ... At that moment the rear wasn't even assembled. Talk about PTSD, haha. :D

[@boxingday11]

Great video Al, 👍🏻

[@nicnak4475]

Great content Alan ! 👍

[@scotthawkins1011]

Great video!👍

[@teatimetel174]

quite imPRESSED also..lol..great job Alan

[@jimryan5724]

Very talented 👏

[@alan4x]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@brianhume4743]

These are the best videos alan, I enjoy the hands on stuff, just sayin from North of Newcastle 😅

[@laterego1]

glad to hear this notice

[@MyJon64]

My son has the same car. EO53TXF been failing it mot for the last few years but also been very cheap and easy to put right.

[@tommoso55]

Well done Alan, the focus is far to good to scrap. Lot more mileage to be had imho

[@chucky2316]

Good car mate love the mk1s and 2s

[@gs425]

Nice job Alan, but pleeeeeease put the guard back on your grinder .

[@terryatkinson3182]

Id have to paint something on the underneath, my ocd couldn't leave the rust 😊

[@user-sf7kl9uh7k]

Dinatrol

[@terryatkinson3182]

@user-sf7kl9uh7k needs something or there'll be holes in no time 😊

[@JasperTW-NL]

Great to see that the focus is getting a new change of life That front control arm bushing need to be installed about 12mm before the collar touches the arm Otherwise the busching has a wrong preload on it because its not in the middle (You can check pts to see)

[@teatimetel174]

i have an issue with my mk1 sport tdci.the rear sits to high.i think someones change the rear springs but not done it properly

[@JasperTW-NL]

@@teatimetel174 might have the wrong springs in it. Some models had higher weight rated springs . That could cause the height issue. Some Ford models even had different springs if you did or did not have a towbar . Make sure the springs that were put in are for your exact spec of Ford .

[@flycorvus]

Same story with my daily driver 1.8 Zetec Turnier. But I removed the complete rear subframe unit last year. Full restoration job. New bolts (all), new bushings (all), new springs, paintjob. Took two weeks. Those bloody factory bolts were seized into the factory bushings like concrete. Drum brakes on a Ghia? Interesting. Mine has 4 discs.

[@fwof3347]

Echoing other comments, glad you saved it, would like to see a mini restore ie, remove rust under carriage spray black ., refurb wheels interior clean etc .. and then keep it on your heritage fleet.

[@philipnewton7942]

Allen Well done mate it is nice to see a old car been fixed up not scraped I would spray it underneath wax oil of underseal or oil spray it ghen put new m.o.t on the it could be sold £1000 or £800 I todays market these projects are good for ghe chanel has hundreds of people are running old cars again with cost of living g going up sorry for long .essage you top man Phil in stoke 😊

[@tvdel]

Looking forward to the next video on this project car

[@Non-Stick_Pan]

Literally made me lol when I saw the step ladder Alan 🤣

[@mmcgready4566]

Nice video well explained..

[@johnemanolis]

Great job.

[@chalikuddin5700]

Great video

[@fraserm803]

Lovin your vids

[@matthewwebber3982]

Glad you saved this

[@teatimetel174]

love the mk1 and have three myself .there going up in value..hard to get a cheap auto so this would be ideal for someone.

[@danielscitt4486]

well done alan

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

Nice one. It was worth saving.

[@terryatkinson3182]

Good decision 😊

[@mickramo498]

fess up alan your keeping it for you

[@Efferpheasants]

The car snobs may sneer about Fords and Vauxhalls but it is them that are still working hard on the roads well into old age. Most of the elite German marques would be a complete basket case at that age while a pretty Japanese car would be an utter rot box underneath.

[@teatimetel174]

nice one alan another mk1 saved

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

Great video. Clear instructions to follow. I have to do this on mine. Do you think I'll be able to do this with just axle stands and jack? Can you please write the name of the place you bought the parts from?

[@Finglesham]

IT's a fair while since I have seen a brake drum. Great to see a pro at work. You make horrible jobs look possible. Yes, keep old cars on the road much less CO 2 than making a new car. Show us the rest of the car refurb please, when you do it.

[@EliteRock]

Are you not supposed to either jack the hub to up to ride height (or get the arms to specified angles) or have the car on its wheels before you fully tighten rubber suspension bushes?

[@TheDaf95xf]

That’s was a great video Mr mondingo man 🤣