Adrian C wrote:

Martin Evans wrote:

I've found advice in Honest John does relate very well to issues I've
had with my car (Renault Laguna / corroded power steering pipes) which
is not something mentioned in the manufacturer's recall notices listed
on the Automobile Association's website!

That might be the case but corroded steering pipes would be picked up
by the MOT and failure would not necessarily lead to total loss of
control of the vehicle (it would need big muscles though)

It was hilarious reading some of the Honest Johns advice given in the
Motoring section of the Telegraph a few years ago Some of It was ok
but odd bits were about as believable as the mileage on a car sold by
Quentin Willson. (see Leicester area papers a few years ago)

If it is that problem, I'd investigate with some other expert exactly
why the pins are falling out, and if as I suggested in my posting that
parts are in misalignment. Squirting lubricant at the problem may not be
the solution if it makes the pins more likely to dislodge. Surely a
better engineered pin or securement method would be better? BTW, I don't
really know the mechanics of Focus braking systems - but someone
probably does in uk.rec.cars.maintenance.

Even if you didn't know the precise mechanics of the linkage no
manufacturer would produce a pedal mechanism where the pivot pins
would just "fall out". For a start they are usually constrained by
circlips or split pins at one or both ends, sometimes with stepped
shoulders and the forces concerned would tend to retain the pin within
the bushing rather than spitting it out. Removing them can be an
absolute pig of a job at the best of times. Despite it being Ford
who are well known for their ability to produce "it will do dirt cheap
engineering" the Focus has been around for a long time both here and
in the most litigious market in the world so IMHO the merest hint of a
problem like this would have caused a recall years ago.

Squeaky pedals IME are usually the result of dry nylon bushes that
were never lubricated right in the first place.
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