Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs

[MattBLancs]

Would be strange if Australian 406 were built different but not impossible I guess! If yours was definitely at 90 not a 110 then I'm surprised it had a DMF

Yes, lots of manual 306 over here, in fact would say vast majority. Notable mention of the 306 GTI-6 with it's six speed manual.

Yes that's me, though surprisingly it's further back than I'd have guessed.

Slightly Shodringer's Cat type insulted/complemented status for me then!

[MattBLancs]

Few more pictures

Bottom ball joints both refused to come out from hub taper, so unbolted from wishbone instead. Wishbones look new - MOT advisory I thought I'd need to fix, already done = result!

One track rod end pretty ancient, other side looks new. Old one rubber on the edge of perishing I'd say. Will sort that soon. Wonder if I've a second hand boot I could put on it - as would save tracking needing doing (Vs changing track rod end complete)

[mickthemaverick]

I hate it when people only do one side of anything to do with suspension and steering. It must make the car unbalanced one way or another. I always change in pairs or even 4s for shocks and springs!!

[MattBLancs]

I hate it when people only do one side of anything to do with suspension and steering. It must make the car unbalanced one way or another. I always change in pairs or even 4s for shocks and springs!!

I agree for anything that'd affect the handling or the tracking - but stuff like anti roll bar drop links, I'm not against doing a side there (on the assumption only one has had it, obviously!)

[RichardW]

Is what I was once told true, that in the UK, you're never more than 100 kilometres away from the sea? If it is true, then I'm not so surprised about the rust problem. Here, people who live inland, like I do, are generally unwilling to buy cars that have lived in coastal areas for any length of time.

It's not so much the distance to the coast (and some areas are >100km) but rather the winter conditions which result in spreading salt on the road with gay abandon. Where I am near Glasgow this can happen pretty much any time from now onwards till Late August next year Even in the UK, Scottish cars are notably more rusty than those from further south where the winters are not as bad, and salt use is less prevalent.

@Matt - good progress! Are you planning the drop the box, or leave it in and 'letterbox' it? Former requires the subframe extensions removing, which in turn needs the front bumper off to access the bolts for them (although if the arms have been done these will have been out to do them, so shouldn't be too bad. Latter requires that you drop the side of the subframe to make enough room to get the end of the box over the extensions - and the bolts like to seize in and spin the 'captive' nuts (which are only held in with a bit of plastic FFS!). Might be an unenviable choice....!

[MattBLancs]

Is what I was once told true, that in the UK, you're never more than 100 kilometres away from the sea? If it is true, then I'm not so surprised about the rust problem. Here, people who live inland, like I do, are generally unwilling to buy cars that have lived in coastal areas for any length of time.

It's not so much the distance to the coast (and some areas are >100km) but rather the winter conditions which result in spreading salt on the road with gay abandon. Where I am near Glasgow this can happen pretty much any time from now onwards till Late August next year Even in the UK, Scottish cars are notably more rusty than those from further south where the winters are not as bad, and salt use is less prevalent.

Yes, was going to reply about that - the mild winters we have, bouncing above and below zero often, risk of ice and salt the roads. Countries that have much colder winters don't have that freeze thaw and gritting habit as I understand it (though might have studded and/or winter tyres)

@Matt - good progress! Are you planning the drop the box, or leave it in and 'letterbox' it? Former requires the subframe extensions removing, which in turn needs the front bumper off to access the bolts for them (although if the arms have been done these will have been out to do them, so shouldn't be too bad. Latter requires that you drop the side of the subframe to make enough room to get the end of the box over the extensions - and the bolts like to seize in and spin the 'captive' nuts (which are only held in with a bit of plastic FFS!). Might be an unenviable choice....!

Probably drop the box - that's what I did on the C5.
Underside of this thing looking a bit Scottish i.e. crusty, so suspect captive nuts spinning sounds likely.
A bit of rust treatment and repaint needed. Interestingly this has hasn't ever had a single advisory mentioning rust (to the extent I expected it to look like the blue 308 under here, it certainly does not!) caught just in time I think, not expecting to find holes but ready for treating before it deteriorates any further.


But had chance to read the codes yet (and battery removed presently) but have bought a bottle of Eolys type additive to put in the correct
tank

[MattBLancs]

To be honest, I took the subframe extension off on the C5, but don't recall removing front bumper!? Hmm maybe memory failing me there!

(Bigger, longer car, more overhang - perhaps it pans out differently on the C5?)

[CitroJim]

Excellent progress Matt Loving that picture of 'Crystal Central' You could sell that as a work of art and recoup the cost of the car