Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
New car's awful oxidized wheels have pretty equally awful tyres so replacement of these is high in the list.
In the short term I am considering a wheel swap between the C5 and the new car.
viewtopic.php?p=728329#p728329
Has good information which suggests
C5 offset: 30 / 32
308 offset: 44
In the short term I am considering a wheel swap between the C5 and the new car.
viewtopic.php?p=728329#p728329
Has good information which suggests
C5 offset: 30 / 32
308 offset: 44
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Well done Matt. Hope you enjoyed the process. I don't although when looking for a replacement for my Xsara Picasso, I did start a thread with the positive title of...MattBLancs wrote: 13 Jul 2024, 17:21 A purchase has been made!
Not the one above (in the spoiler, with black wheels) but it's twin brother sporting original (diamond turned and hence looking a right state!) alloy wheels. Just completed the 70 - odd mile drive home (54mph average= busy M62 and M61) at 65mpg indicated! Road tax £20 on this example.
Thankfully the last few vehicles entering the Falcon Fleet have been opportunist, where I was in the right place at the right time.
Bargain basement Motoring and Bargain Basement Electric document it all.
Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
687 Trinity, Jersey
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Thanks for the cross link, I've just had a read and will add in my thoughts to perhaps reawaken a good read with some new contributions.NewcastleFalcon wrote: 13 Jul 2024, 18:21 Well done Matt. Hope you enjoyed the process. I don't although when looking for a replacement for my Xsara Picasso, I did start a thread with the positive title of...
Definitely don't enjoy selling (too sentimental in the first place and after the sale I tend to torture myself contrasting how little it sold for Vs how feasible fixing it would have been. As my automotive skillset has increased slowly over the years that comparison has tended to get less and less comfortable! I.e. "given some time, I could have fixed that" )
By looking up MOT history, I can see that every car I've ever owned (and sold) is almost certainly long since scrapped. None of them had more than one MOT beyond my ownership - none has massive fail sheets suggesting either parked in a ditch/tree or just scrapped as "not worth fixing" - makes me sad!
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Final image before I am off to bed
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Rough list of jobs (for when I've not got my 2 year old resting his sleepy head on my chest!
) for the blue 308

- sat nav appears to think it's stuck in Wakefield and gave all sorts of nonsense instructions when set to take me home.
- wheel swap to get rid of the awful tyres (and oxidized rims
- investigate and likely replace driver's side(??) CV joint
- source a replacement parcel shelf. Seems to be about £130 on eBay. Quite a step up from the last second hand one I bought - for the 206: £6!!
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Possible wheel options I'm thinking about
508, 16" ten spoke.
5x108, 7.0J 16", ET46
Normally have 215/60R16 tyres from 508 application.
Example: From https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145068985776
508, 16" ten spoke.
5x108, 7.0J 16", ET46
Normally have 215/60R16 tyres from 508 application.
Example: From https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145068985776
Last edited by MattBLancs on 15 Jul 2024, 08:25, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Current tyres are
This excellent website:
https://tiresize.com/comparison/
Suggests the overall diameter of the 16" is greater than the 18" so a touch too much nice squishy sidewall! Dropping to a 55 profile would be about perfect (will confirm availability of such a size)
225/40R18This excellent website:
https://tiresize.com/comparison/
Suggests the overall diameter of the 16" is greater than the 18" so a touch too much nice squishy sidewall! Dropping to a 55 profile would be about perfect (will confirm availability of such a size)
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Further wheel investigation, not just online digging! Out with the tools:
C5 spare, 17" full size with a 225/55R17 tyre = considerable size increase over the 308 wheels (+6.4% 35mm says the tire size site). Tried it on front anyway= clears caliper with room to spare. Offset noticibly different too. Will check the C5 steel offset as am sure it's marked. Edit: ET32 On that note, 308 current wheels are ET48 Next, I thought I'd see how far I could get on one wheel bolt as strangely the rest would not go in!
More seriously, thought this would give chance to check clearance of a 16" wheel Vs the large front brake caliper.
Obviously considerably tighter than the 18" with a full inch off the radius. But it does clear:
C5 spare, 17" full size with a 225/55R17 tyre = considerable size increase over the 308 wheels (+6.4% 35mm says the tire size site). Tried it on front anyway= clears caliper with room to spare. Offset noticibly different too. Will check the C5 steel offset as am sure it's marked. Edit: ET32 On that note, 308 current wheels are ET48 Next, I thought I'd see how far I could get on one wheel bolt as strangely the rest would not go in!

More seriously, thought this would give chance to check clearance of a 16" wheel Vs the large front brake caliper.
Obviously considerably tighter than the 18" with a full inch off the radius. But it does clear:
Last edited by MattBLancs on 14 Jul 2024, 23:11, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Oh look that lower caliper Allen bolt slider is missing it's dust cap.
Also on the to do:
Also on the to do:
- Engine undertray (just bought, £49.99 eBay, new aftermarket)
- Passenger side wheel arch liner will come off for a session with the hot staples:
- rather unconvincing looking CV boot (and grease everywhere) suggests I've found my clacking noise. Currently researching new CV joints. GSF and euro both don't list a CV for the 2.0 308.
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Oh and tired looking wishbone bushes, rear end of both front wishbones:
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Rear wheels off, I see the 308 electric handbrake won't suffer the snapping Bowden cables of the C5 electric setup as it has caliper mounted motors instead. So more unsprung weight.
Rear suspension "beam" is pretty crusty - that'll get cleaned up and painted / undersealed. Weirdly the three bolts holding the rear left passenger door catch into the door were all at most finger tight! So now they are nipped up.]
Hey-ho beats a manual setup up that "just works" and only cost sub £20 if a cable snaps . Rear suspension "beam" is pretty crusty - that'll get cleaned up and painted / undersealed. Weirdly the three bolts holding the rear left passenger door catch into the door were all at most finger tight! So now they are nipped up.]
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Ah, missed a nice set of 17" 407 Coupe alloys here:
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Plenty to keep you busy there Matt!
Jim
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Aye, and I've not shown you the "make it up as you go along" approach taken with respect to hub nuts!
Take a nut designed to be staked over, then add a random split pin.
Or just omit the split pin if feeling tired!
Think there is a big thick washer missing on both sides.
That "shard" suggests cross threaded potentially.
So some fun there to be had!!
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Re: Suspension sinks on Sundays! C5 X7 that works hard + 206 GTi HDi (and 406 Coupe and 306 HDi). - MattBLancs
Gosh these are quite dear considering second hand!
I'm lucky to have a set of 4, but two have lost the button and associated mechanism beneath which locks them in position. Think I'll make do rather than chuck £60 on a fully functional pair!!
I'm lucky to have a set of 4, but two have lost the button and associated mechanism beneath which locks them in position. Think I'll make do rather than chuck £60 on a fully functional pair!!