I took the car for inspection they lifted it to check it out and when I got it back it was popping when turning the wheel, even while parked, it would pop turning the wheel lock to lock.
Just a thought - I suspect the excort and focus share some parts and perhaps lifting the car then putting it back on the ground realigned the spring ends where broken and masked the problem.
Note the popping was loud and you could feel it throught the steering wheel and when you watched the spring while someone else turned the steering wheel you could see the spring hop as it popped. (my appologies to Dr. Suess)
Could be as simple an a bent backing plate on that wheel. If it is you can just pry it away from moving parts with a pry bar or long screwdriver. Jack up that wheel and spin it by hand while you try to determine the problem. Be careful anytime you have a car lifted on a jack.
The four rubber boots around the CV-Joints should be inspected for joint leaks. When the joint grease leaks out if the boots the joint should be removes and inspected particularly when you hear noise.
Fords have had a bad time with their coil springs. They break for no good reason other than poor metal of bad heat-treating.
The popping sound which occurs only when your turning is your rack and pinion steering assembly, I have had this problem numerous times on different vehicles and its always the same problem. Will cost you a lot in repairs as the assembly is one big unit. good luck
There is a grinding/popping sound on a 2001 Ford ZX2...it does it sometimes even when you aren't turning the wheel, but seems to be really prominent when you turn the wheel. As time has passed, this has gotten even louder. It is being taken to yet another garage today to be serviced. A trusted garage of years...failed to find anything. The noise mysterious "disappeared" after we had them take a look at it and he mentioned that he "twist-tied" some part that was flopping around. However, that wasn't it. It stopped for a very short time and is now much louder. It is a grinding sound as if something is scraping on something else when turning...sort of a metal on metal sound.
The ball joints were replaced about a year ago. The tie rod ends were also replaced. Shocks/struts (not sure which one it needs on the front) were checked (or so they claimed) at the first garage...and he said it needed them. But he also said that the only thing that it hurts is it makes for a more bumpy ride. CV boots were checked for cracks and I even managed to take photos of them myself, just to make sure...they look fine. However, I'm still wondering about the CV axle(s) and another garage is going to take a look today. This was a northern car originally and spent a while in Michigan (has a lot of underside rust, etc, from the heavy salt used up there).
