# What's happening beneath my feet!?!

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 4, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552 "2008-04-04T16:50:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Casey3t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Casey3t](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Casey3t)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552/1 "2008-04-04T16:50:32Z")

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I am looking for a little direction from anyone out there with a measurable amount of car knowledge. I drive a 2003 Ford Focus hatchback and it has a strange quirk - occasionally when turning the wheel, I can feel something rubbing against the bottom of the car directly beneath my left foot. It happens most often when I am backing out of my angled parking spot. What can this be? And what can be done to repair it? Any ideas welcome. Please help!

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**Author:** ![Vogelfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@Vogelfish](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Vogelfish)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552/2 "2008-04-04T16:53:21Z")

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Possibly it’s you ex-wife?

Or maybe your tire is rubbing when the wheel is fully turned - a visual inspection should tell you all you need.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552/3 "2008-04-04T17:15:56Z")

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The noise might be coming from a broken strut spring. I’ve replaced broken strut springs on a couple Focuses. They usually break right at the last bottom coil at the spring pearch.

Tester

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**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552/4 "2008-04-05T03:19:53Z")

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Good call. I hear the Focus has a problem with broken springs. Also inspect the plastic fender liner.

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**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552/5 "2008-04-05T03:40:35Z")

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the strut spring:

does this make “clunking” noises over bumps or speed bumps?

again, you mention when turning does it do this in a rhythm? this does seem like a broken McPherson strut. but the other front end guides could be an issue too. an inspection by a good shop could pinpoint this quickly, and for less $$ than a dealership.

i am NOT talking about a dealership, or a chain pep, jiffy, or discount shop. look in the yellow pages for a mechanic, ask your family, co workers, friends for a reference.

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**Author:** ![Casey3t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Casey3t](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Casey3t)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-happening-beneath-my-feet/12552/6 "2008-04-07T14:02:54Z")

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thank you all for your help! I’ll find a good place and get it checked out. At least now I will have something to tell the mechanic beyond incoherent babbling!