[Honkeytonk Monkey]

The end links on these cars are garbage from the factory. They are a cast piece with ball in socket ends on them. The sockets are rubber filled which means two things, no true weather seal, dust will eventually destroy them, and they will have slop in them right from day one as the rubber will compress (letting in dust and grime that will eventually destroy them.

When you replace them, go to Canadian Tire and buy the end link replacements they carry for $17 each. They are a solid piece of steel tube with welded ends complete with boots held on by spring clamps and are filled with a lubricant. I'd guess they would last longer than the car. I also know we have two left in stock at my store on Preston Crossing, I ordered two for my car and a couple for the next Focus that comes through the shop with the same problem.

The difference in quality between the parts is rediculous, The stockers actually came apart as I was taking them off the car.

I've never seen a car come through the shop for a tie rod problem however, and there are a few Foci going through the shop. I had a faulty rack and pinion assembly in the Focus, and the boots on my axles were cracking at under twoo hundred kms but after they were replaced it's never had a front end problem other than the end links.