406oc.co.uk

I cant find a Suspension or Wheel section so Im going to try here. Hope I can snag a genius with the knowledge skills.

Q1) Does anyone know if the 15in Speedline alloys origonally packaged with the 205 1.9 GTI are direct fit to 97 406s?
I know the pcd is a direct match, and the rim size is obviously fine, but the offset might require spacers?
Anybody had them on, or seen it done?

Q2) Lowering. Already asked in my Welcome thread but not really answered.
Plan to lower 40mm on Spax springs. Have had terrible experience on former (rwd) cars with lowering causing exhaust grounding (and falling off completley), and driveshaft clearence.
Obviously the 406 has no driveshafts at the posterior but are there any known pitfalls of lowing this amount?

Many thanks Everyone.

My brother had his lowered, the problems he had were...

Broken exhaust, smashed rear valance and front valance (speed bump damage), terrible bumpy ride, he hated it, took off his lowering springs and sold them.

jasper5 wrote:My brother had his lowered, the problems he had were...

Broken exhaust, smashed rear valance and front valance (speed bump damage), terrible bumpy ride, he hated it, took off his lowering springs and sold them.

Thank you VERY much mate.
Im in love with the ride so far, just not the stance.
I shall retain comfort and to hell with fickle coolness.

Mine's lowered 40mm and I've only had slight scraping issues on narrow speed bumps. Ride is much better than standard as I found it far too soft and wallowy, mainly the dive under braking really offput me. Anyway, I drive on really rough country roads and haven't had any issues with sraping/grounding on the move. I've also got a Laguna splitter on mine and that catches stuff fairly regularly, but being rubber it bends and bounces back and is still in 1 piece!

If they're smashing front and rear bumpers, then they've either got really massive speed bumps or they've been hitting them far too fast.

HimBigChief wrote:Mine's lowered 40mm and I've only had slight scraping issues on narrow speed bumps. Ride is much better than standard as I found it far too soft and wallowy, mainly the dive under braking really offput me. Anyway, I drive on really rough country roads and haven't had any issues with sraping/grounding on the move. I've also got a Laguna splitter on mine and that catches stuff fairly regularly, but being rubber it bends and bounces back and is still in 1 piece!

If they're smashing front and rear bumpers, then they've either got really massive speed bumps or they've been hitting them far too fast.

Cheers Chief.
Nice Devils Advocate there Mate.

The estates surrounding me (which I have to use to get anywhere) are all traffic calmed with those horrible narrow speedbumps. Hence previous exhaust scrape/fall-off hell.
I was hoping everything would be up out of harms way on the 406, but it sounds like I can expect similar issues.
Im used to taking bumps at -10mph and thats not problem (whod want to go over a speedbump fast??) but I think ill leave it standard for the time being.

After a a good few years running slammed 300s on stiff springs im quite enjoying the waft and wallow of the 406.
^^(I never thought Id end up writing a sentance like that and meaning it. )

i'm planning on doing the same , but why would you put 15inchers on a 406? 18 look sexy , and 17 are optimal =D

HimBigChief wrote: I've also got a Laguna splitter on mine

If they're smashing front and rear bumpers, then they've either got really massive speed bumps or they've been hitting them far too fast.

do you by any chance know what other car parts sorta fit a 406?

406BE wrote:i'm planning on doing the same , but why would you put 15inchers on a 406? 18 look sexy , and 17 are optimal =D

Staying 15 as i really like the ride.
18s look too MAX POWER and 17s ruin the ride. Thats my opinion, not gospel.
195/50/15s look loveley on any car, and i have some brand new Toyo R1s so thats the way for me.

17's don't ruin the ride, and as you're in Newcastle, you can have a look at mine if you like. I work on Scotswood Rd and I'm about during the week. Live up near Kielder though, so not about all the time. BTW, 195/50's will be too small and make the speedo under-read even more than it does as standard.

HimBigChief wrote:17's don't ruin the ride, and as you're in Newcastle, you can have a look at mine if you like. I work on Scotswood Rd and I'm about during the week. Live up near Kielder though, so not about all the time. BTW, 195/50's will be too small and make the speedo under-read even more than it does as standard.

Hmmmm. interesting.
The only 17in experience I have is on an old Calibra and 17s really killed that.
I'd love a look at how yours sits mate and I only work in town. Might see if I can wizz along after work one day.
Can you PM me a tel no to try and arrange summat man?

Ben

HimBigChief wrote:Mine's lowered 40mm and I've only had slight scraping issues on narrow speed bumps. Ride is much better than standard as I found it far too soft and wallowy, mainly the dive under braking really offput me. Anyway, I drive on really rough country roads and haven't had any issues with sraping/grounding on the move. I've also got a Laguna splitter on mine and that catches stuff fairly regularly, but being rubber it bends and bounces back and is still in 1 piece!

If they're smashing front and rear bumpers, then they've either got really massive speed bumps or they've been hitting them far too fast.

i agree, the 406 drives like a boat turning sharply on water cant wait to get my springs on it

VND wrote:

HimBigChief wrote:17's don't ruin the ride, and as you're in Newcastle, you can have a look at mine if you like. I work on Scotswood Rd and I'm about during the week. Live up near Kielder though, so not about all the time. BTW, 195/50's will be too small and make the speedo under-read even more than it does as standard.

Hmmmm. interesting.
The only 17in experience I have is on an old Calibra and 17s really killed that.
I'd love a look at how yours sits mate and I only work in town. Might see if I can wizz along after work one day.
Can you PM me a tel no to try and arrange summat man?

Ben

17's are fine on calibras, i had 17s on mine for a good couple of years, got 16's on it now with a larger tyre (not my choice they came with the wheels) and they boat around a lot, with the larger profile it gives you a feeling that you havnt got full control...