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

[Huskyxantia]

Right hand side driveshaft nut is not coming off.

Currently considering:
500mm, 3/4" driver breaker bar, £13.25
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375165009871

Plus:
36mm deep, impact, 3/4" drive socket, £9.75
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266564039591

As possible increased level of violence to tackle this ultra tight driveshaft nut.

Other contenders:

Spoiler: show

Machine Mart, £36, 600mm breaker bar
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/040219620/

Halfords advance, 19", on trade card £19.99
https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-too ... 26444.html

You must get that bar , you will be happy you have one they are a must .
Im going to have to get another socket for the hub nuts as i think mine has or is losing its shape, to much tug n pull !

[MattBLancs]

Yes seems a good buy. My nice long 1/2" drive breaker bar has been sufficient for everything I've done in the past (ok, I've snapped the end off twice in about 20 years, but that's just err, consumables!!) so was surprised to be defeated here.

There's general bodgery all around this front right wheel arch (e.g. big hex head self tapper screws through arch liner as a standard fixing had failed. Not a bad quick solution, but very much literally "fired in" anywhere near and slightly off perpetual to the surface.)

This is also the one which has a split pin wrangled into a cross drilled hole in the end of the shaft. A hole not present on the other side or either of the new driveshafts. So the wrong CV??? Who knows, will find out when that nut is defeated - another day's battle!!

[Huskyxantia]

Matt would you know what type of 10mm bolt holds the abs sensor in on these 308s

[MattBLancs]

Matt would you know what type of 10mm bolt holds the abs sensor in on these 308s

Nope but I'll have a look in a mo!

Currently in "firefighting mode" i.e. trying to get something sorted quick! Quick test run if the blue 308 to the tip = with one new wishbone in place, the tracking is hugely out! Steering wheel about 45° to the right for straight in, handling feels odd, squealing tyres in a mini roundabout at low speed! Having completed the couple of mile (but national speed limit most of it) trip back from the tip, front tyre tread was hot! Think my 80 mile round trip on Tuesday would eat them!!

So on with the other wishbone quick as I can, fingers crossed I can find somewhere local to set the tracking for me tomorrow.


And forgot to remove the suspension level sensor when removing the wishbone so I've snapped that in two. D'oh!!

[MattBLancs]

[MattBLancs]

Initially melted back together with soldering iron, then a heated panel pin inserted through into the ball, going to fill this recess on the back with the hot glue gun

[Huskyxantia]

I used a string line to do my tracking , its simple and very effective . I put a axle stand at the rear of the car with builders line then run it 5 inches up the face of the wheel to the front wrapping the line around the tire then another axle stand at the front with the line pretty tight your see how much the tracking is out as it will push either the front edge or back edge out that much you will notice it, then adjust the arm till you see no line buldge , jobs done ive just done mine abiut half hour ago always done it that way for years, never had any tire problems either .

same as this video.

[Huskyxantia]

Matt would you know what type of 10mm bolt holds the abs sensor in on these 308s

Nope but I'll have a look in a mo!

Currently in "firefighting mode" i.e. trying to get something sorted quick! Quick test run if the blue 308 to the tip = with one new wishbone in place, the tracking is hugely out! Steering wheel about 45° to the right for straight in, handling feels odd, squealing tyres in a mini roundabout at low speed! Having completed the couple of mile (but national speed limit most of it) trip back from the tip, front tyre tread was hot! Think my 80 mile round trip on Tuesday would eat them!!

So on with the other wishbone quick as I can, fingers crossed I can find somewhere local to set the tracking for me tomorrow.


And forgot to remove the suspension level sensor when removing the wishbone so I've snapped that in two. D'oh!!

oops , always when we rush , happens to me, my mum used to say i was always doing the 5th job in line while trting to do the others at the same time, dont worry abiut the bolt i found one in my junk pots a perfect fit , never throw them junk pots away !

[MattBLancs]

Ride height sensor repaired

[MattBLancs]

Tracking - thank you for the video, something for next time. I got one track rod end freed off but the other flat out refuses to budge! Lock nuts no problem just track today end to rod that would not spin for me. Ran out of time and daylight so back on the ground as is.

Needs more violence and probably some heat. Hopefully the garage can manage it. Or hopefully I can find a garage who can accommodate me tomorrow and fix it too!

[MattBLancs]

That's worrying Matt.. Are these the ones that are wound with thinner diameter material?

Sorry missed this (over the page) - yes the thinner new ones.

Watch out for them china branded ones , markets flooded with cheap parts even Euro car parts have had problems

Supposed to be decent brand: KYB, came in KYB boxes hopefully not fakes!



I think I've solved it: springs were upside down!

I decided to take them off again as clearly not right as installed. Makers name was upside down on both sides. There is a tiny, tiny difference top to bottom. Not really visible but a fraction tighter wound final loop on the bottom end.

I've swapped them over, though am not overly enamoured with how the top sits:

Rather abstract image, viewed in situ with phone slipped between the coils, looking up

Also put the "noise deadening" sleeve on the other end, this time with numerous cable ties (hopefully of the non biodegradable variety!!)

Looking down inside the spring

Will see how it behaves!

[Huskyxantia]

Nice one Matt you can tick that on off the list ! Ive noticed that some springs are not color coded like they once were , maybe there making that many there not bothering, it is easy to get some of these springs unside down ive done it myself.

[MattBLancs]

I'm hoping it is fixed, if it's still twanging next week, I'm not sure what the plan is next!

[MattBLancs]

Final thoughts/updates before I head off to bed:

Forgot to mention: blue 308 gearbox oil drain (ahead of the driveshaft swap) - not accurately measured but when decanted from drain bottle into a (3 litre) Vimto bottle ready for trip to the tip: only about 1 litre came out when drained! So am very glad to have filled it properly.

Stubborn driveshaft nut:
I decided not to faff about with cheapest 500mm 3/4" breaker bar so have spent a little more (£26.97) on a nice great big 40" long (1016mm) beast of a breaker bar!

I also decided not to faff about buying a single 36mm socket for just this task (cost £9.75), but instead buy a set (£36.99) which includes:

24mm, 26mm, 27mm, 29mm, 30mm, 32mm, 33mm, 34mm, 35mm, 36mm, 38mm, 41mm

Of which I know that (the underlined ones) several sizes are likely useful.

[CitroJim]

Ahh! Upside-down... Pleased you solved that one Matt

All those sockets will be useful - if only as mandrels for various pressing jobs