Ford Focus Mk3 Front Suspension Strut: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A knocking noise over bumps is a notoriously tricky Focus diagnosis — here's the sensible, cost-conscious order to check things in.

Generation covered: this guide is for the third-generation Focus, built 2011–2018 (commonly the 2014–2018 registered examples still in daily use). The newer Mk4 Focus (2018–) uses different part numbers throughout — check your V5C logbook or VIN if you're unsure which generation you have.

Illustration of a suspension strut and coil spring

Illustration for editorial purposes

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The Notoriously Tricky "Knocking Sound" Diagnosis

A knocking or clunking noise from the front suspension over bumps is one of the most consistently reported Focus complaints across owner forums, and it's worth knowing upfront that it can be a genuinely frustrating, multi-visit diagnosis even for experienced technicians. Owners have reported chasing this exact noise through strut top mounts and bearings, sway bar (anti-roll bar) end links, and worn bushings, sometimes replacing several parts in sequence before the noise actually stops.

A genuinely useful diagnostic order worth trying first: sway bar end links (drop links) are consistently the most commonly reported actual cause, and they're a relatively inexpensive part to replace — checking these before assuming the pricier strut mounts or bearings are at fault is the sensible starting point most independent specialists take. With the car safely jacked up, rocking the road wheel top and bottom checks for wheel bearing or ball joint play, while directly pushing on the sway bar end link itself can often reproduce the exact knock if that's the actual culprit.

Ford Focus Mk3 Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work

On the Ford Focus Mk3, these components absorb every pothole, bump and cornering force before any of it reaches the cabin, which is why deterioration here rarely announces itself with one obvious symptom. Working through it methodically finds the actual cause faster than guessing ever will.

Before you buy: suspension components vary by trim, engine weight and whether your car has the standard or sport-tuned setup. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Ford Focus Mk3 Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Ford Focus MK3 2011-2017 Front Coil Spring Strut Replacement 1.6 Diesel Shock Absorber 2013

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Mk3 front strut and spring job.

Ford Focus Mk3 Front Suspension reference plate

OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front struts (aftermarket) KYB 3348015 / Sachs 318 720

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford Focus Mk3 (Mk3 2011-2018) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Front struts, lower arms and top mounts are sold by side and by suspension spec — standard, sport / lowered (S line, M Sport, R-Line, ST-Line etc.), heavy-duty and adaptive / electronic damping all use different part numbers, and some makers split by engine or front axle load. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Confirm the fit against your VIN, and replace struts and top mounts in pairs.

Front strut / shock absorber (aftermarket)	Sachs 318 720 (LH) and 318 721 (RH) (twin-tube gas); Sachs 315 469 (LH) and 315 470 (RH) (SFE32/22X153A); KYB 3348015 (LH) and 3348014 (RH) (Excel-G); TRW JGM1271T (twin-tube, top pin); Ridex 854S1871
Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket)	LH Lemförder 38552 01, TRW JTC2285, Febi 105737 (cone 21 mm), Delphi TC2674 (with ball joint); RH Lemförder 38553 01, TRW JTC2286, Meyle 716 050 0016 (with ball joint, rubber mount)
Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket)	Sachs 801 041 (bearing included, 2 per axle); Febi 30841 (plastic, angular ball bearing, 107 mm); SNR KB652.13 (with bearing, 106 mm); Febi 30786 (elastomer, no bearing); Meyle 714 641 1014 (no bearing)
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	Sachs 801 041 top mount: 1223835, 1250820, 1255350, 1508111, 1674672, 1695818, 1787358, 1820399, 1907038, 2084212, 30666530, 31262470, 3M51-3K099-AA/AB/AC/AD, 9M51-3K099-AA/AB, BBM2-34-38X, BP4K-34-38XA, BP4K-34-38XB, BP4K-34-XB, DV61-3K099-AC/AD/AE/AF. Febi 30786: 1 377 612. None quoted for struts or arms.
Fitment notes	Standard gas struts; no sport or lowered units. Two Sachs strut specs are listed, so confirm against the original.

The front strut is a separate, distinct part from the front lower control arm (wishbone) — worn control arm bushes can produce a similar knock over bumps, and it's worth ruling this cheaper part out first before assuming the strut itself has failed.

Ford Focus Mk3 Front Suspension Strut: What It Does

The Ford Focus Mk3's front strut does two jobs in one unit — damping the suspension's movement and providing the coil spring's mounting point. Wear here shows up as excessive bounce after bumps rather than a quick settle, and left long enough, uneven tyre wear tends to follow.

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Ford Focus Mk3 Front Suspension Strut: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Front Suspension Strut Guide for symptoms of worn bushings and ball joints, confirming fitment against your VIN, and rubber vs polyurethane guidance.

More Ford Front Suspension Strut

The same part, covered across other Ford models.