Suspension · 2026
Ford Focus coil spring cost
A coil spring on a Ford Focus typically costs £63–£190 per side fitted at a UK independent garage, or £116–£352 as an axle pair. The Focus's celebrated control-blade multi-link rear mounts its springs separately — an easier swap than the front struts. The quoting trap is the Mk4, which splits the range: lower-powered hatches moved to a twist beam while estates and stronger engines kept independent rear suspension.
What suspension does the Ford Focus have?
The design decides the job: a spring on a strut means a strut-off, spring-compressor job, while separately-mounted springs can be quicker to swap. Here's the Focus's setup:
| Axle | Design |
|---|---|
Front | MacPherson struts with the spring on the strut across all generations — a strut-off compressor job. |
Rear | Mk1–Mk3 (1998–2018): control-blade multi-link with the spring seated separately on the lower link. Mk4 (2018 on): twist beam on 1.0 petrol and 1.5 diesel hatches, independent rear on higher-powered cars, the estate, Active and Vignale. |
Ford Focus coil spring replacement cost
One spring fitted typically costs £63–£190 at a UK independent garage, an axle pair £116–£352, and a full strut assembly (spring + shock together) £125–£380 per side. Springs are replaced in axle pairs as standard practice — uneven ride height fails the MOT.
Key things to know
- Front lower control-arm rear bushes are the most common failure on 2005–18 cars per trade repair guides — clunks and steering wander, and a worn arm bush is a Major MOT defect.
- On Mk4 cars the rear suspension type depends on engine and body style — twist beam vs independent — so parts and labour differ within the same model year. Quote from the registration.
- Spring failures are reported but follow the general UK pattern rather than a Focus-specific epidemic.
- On multi-link cars the rear spring is separate from the damper — owner guides show in-situ replacement by lowering the spring link.
Good question
Questions Okay gets asked a lot
How much does a coil spring cost for a Ford Focus?
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Expect £63–£190 per side fitted at a UK independent garage in 2026, or £116–£352 for both sides of an axle — the usual recommendation, since uneven ride height fails the MOT and the second spring rarely lasts long after the first. If the shock absorber is worn or leaking, a full strut assembly runs £125–£380 per side. The spring itself is cheap; most of the bill is labour. Use our cost calculator to adjust for your region.
Why did two Ford Focus quotes differ for the same rear spring job?
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Check the year and body style. From the Mk4 (2018) Ford quietly fitted two different rear suspensions: lower-powered hatchbacks (1.0 petrol, 1.5 diesel) use a twist-beam axle, while estates, higher-powered cars and upmarket trims kept the independent multi-link. The parts differ, and so does the surrounding labour. On older Focuses (1998–2018) it's simpler — all carry the control-blade multi-link whose springs sit separately from the dampers, making rear springs one of the easier jobs on the car. Either way, a proper quote starts with the registration, not the badge.
How do I know a spring has broken on a Ford Focus?
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Often a loud bang or crack over a pothole or speed bump, then a knocking or clunking from that corner, a car sitting slightly lower or lopsided, and sometimes a tyre catching on full lock. Some breaks are silent — the first sign is the MOT tester finding the snapped coil. A broken spring is a Major MOT defect, and UK potholes plus salted winter roads are the main culprits. Get it checked promptly: a snapped coil can drop and cut the tyre.
Get a price for your Ford Focus
Estimate the spring cost for your car and region, then compare quotes from trusted local garages.