406oc.co.uk

Finished it at last! Replaced o/s spring along with new thrust bearing, nuts bolts etc. Spring was from local factors and made
in Sweden by Kilen (probably made of chocolate-soon to break), drop link by Quinton Hazell, thrust bearing also by Quinton Hazell. Part nos if anyone interested:- Spring 21185 (fits 2.1TD/2.0 HDi May 96-04); Drop link:- QLS3256S
Strut thrust bearing:- QAM 136.

Would recommend anyone planning/having to do this job is to replace that thrust bearing at the top of the spring assembly (it sits on top of the spring cup) then the top plate goes on top of that. One other thing I did was obtain a new damper rod top nut from the local Citroen dealer which has the same thread and pitch as the Pug part but its comes with a base to the nut so I didn't refit the standard washer, torques up just the same but with slightly less thread poking out the top. The reason I chose to do this was because Pug seem to be supplying crimped "one shot" nuts as a replacement for this rod which I don't like because they can do damage to the thread if you wind them on and off a few times, this then renders them useless. My replacement was a standard nut with nylon locking insert albeit slightly taller than the one I took off. Hope to upload some pics sometime of the damged bits of spring that are left! Nearly forgot, the new drop link from QH has a 17mm flat built in to studs so you can hold it tight whilst tightening with torque wrench-so much better than the silly allen keyway in the end of the old one which always strips. Will now plan to do n/s spring and bits soon!

Wrinkly

Sounds like a job well done. I for one would be most appreciative if you and other folks could, when performing this kind of job, snap some step-by-step pics along the way to illustrate your methodology. We now have a Wiki which is an ideal place to keep this kind of information. I appreciate you're new to this techy business, but help would be at hand

I plan to do this as and when I begin my major overhaul, but since most of the jobs involved will be the first time for me the pictures will probably resemble Barry Chuckle's guide to f***ing up your 406

Ta very much Swiss, and thanks for the info about Wiki-looks good! The pictures I have taken are of the remains of the broken spring and the old and new thrust bearing. There should also be a picture of the slightly different damper rod nut that I obtained. Will also try to write out in logical order how I did the job and the difficulties I encountered on the way.

When I first started the car I got my wife to turn the steering wheel from lock to lock while I watched the springs on both sides-they really do twist and flex, it's no wonder they break! Mind you I can't complain, mine broke at just over 100,000 miles and according to the colour coding (yellow) on the spring would appear to have been the original.
Keep ya posted,
Wrinkly.