NoOption5L@aol.com

RichA wrote:
> On 5 Jul 2005 17:56:27 -0700, NoOption5L@aol.com wrote:

> >As some of you may have noticed, my family added a Focus ZX3 to our
> >stable. While I'm not a fan of FWD, I have always liked the styling of
> >the Focus, especially the little ZX3 hatch. When it came time for a
> >little commuter, I just had to take a look/drive. Well, I quickly
> >found out why it made Car & Driver's 10 Best list 5 years in a row.
> >The Focus is one fun little car! It handles extremely well, and the
> >steering is so direct it feels like a go-cart. So if you find yourself
> >in the market for a fun little run-about, take a serious look at a
> >Focus. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

> I rented one for awhile a couple years back. I felt like a 3 year
> old, riding in the seat of a shopping cart. Too high! I got scared
> going around corners at any speed. But I will admit that many of
> the former econoboxes have improved.

The one we have is equipped with 205/50s mounted on 16" aluminum
wheels. It loves the corners.

Patrick
'93 Cobra
'03 Focus ZX3

Kruse

NoOption5L@aol.com wrote:
> RichA wrote:

> The one we have is equipped with 205/50s mounted on 16" aluminum
> wheels. It loves the corners.
>
> Patrick
> '93 Cobra
> '03 Focus ZX3

One good thing about the car is the warranty. I'm a little tall to ride
comfortably in one or I'd consider one myself when buying a new car
since I drive a little ways to work.
Here's a little advice to anyone checking the rear drum brakes on one
of these cars:
It's almost impossible to take off the dust cap without ruining it. And
the drum is an intigrated part of the whole assembly. Weld a nut on the
dust cap and pull off the dust cap with a slide hammer. You still might
distort it a little bit, but put a small bead of silicone around the
dust cap to keep the moisture out.
If you don't weld a nut on the dust cap you can almost certainly
distort the cap every time you take it off. Any the rear brakes should
be check more frequently than other cars because there isn't too much
there.
My $.02.
BTW, a lot of Ford techs are required to check the brakes every time a
vehicle is in the shop. But most Ford techs won't touch the rear Focus
drum brakes unless they have to.

NoOption5L@aol.com

Kruse wrote:

> > The one we have is equipped with 205/50s mounted on 16" aluminum
> > wheels. It loves the corners.

Thanks for the info, Kruse!

Another option is just going to a place like Midas and pay them for
their brake job with the life-time warranty.

Patrick
'93 Cobra
'03 Focus ZX3


> One good thing about the car is the warranty. I'm a little tall to ride
> comfortably in one or I'd consider one myself when buying a new car
> since I drive a little ways to work.
> Here's a little advice to anyone checking the rear drum brakes on one
> of these cars:
> It's almost impossible to take off the dust cap without ruining it. And
> the drum is an intigrated part of the whole assembly. Weld a nut on the
> dust cap and pull off the dust cap with a slide hammer. You still might
> distort it a little bit, but put a small bead of silicone around the
> dust cap to keep the moisture out.
> If you don't weld a nut on the dust cap you can almost certainly
> distort the cap every time you take it off. Any the rear brakes should
> be check more frequently than other cars because there isn't too much
> there.
> My $.02.
> BTW, a lot of Ford techs are required to check the brakes every time a
> vehicle is in the shop. But most Ford techs won't touch the rear Focus
> drum brakes unless they have to.