f/n/s drop link

[scotty73]

I been quoted locally the same price for one drop link as i can get two off ebay, has anyone bought them from there? am i to assume that with them being made of cheese strings the quality will be just as crap locally? ... What are they like to fit? i've fitted them before but that was on a micra.

[gumby6371]

I think the general opinion on drop links is that they will fail regardless of where you get them but the cheap ebay ones will fail a lot quicker.
It depends on how many miles you do and the state of your local roads.

If you're handy with the spanners and don't do a lot of miles give the cheap ones a go.
If you're paying to have them fitted or you use the car quite a bit bite the bullet and put decent ones on.

[scotty73]

Well we were doing about 8000 miles in our old xsara but the miles are racking up faster on this, i even done a 140 mile round trip for a new awning for my caravan which i wouldn't have done in the xsara... Just novelty at the mo i think... i am thinking of doing the job myself.

[gumby6371]

My preffered method is to angle grind the nuts off as they're usually rusted and pretty solid.

If you don't have access to a grinder, wire brush and soak the nuts in loads of WD40 for a couple of hours.
If you're lucky the old links will have flats on the back of the ball joints to stop it spinning when you undo the nut, if not a good pair of mole grips will do the job.
A pry bar or something similar is handy to manouvre the lower arm when fitting the new links.
Even if you have to buy good quality links a pry bar and mole grips it will be cheaper than paying a garage to fit them and you'll have the kit next year when your 406 chews the drop links again

[Gary406]

this job is very very easy. its a case of 2 bolts to remove . as gumby says you will probably need to angle grind the old ones off...

the ones from ebay ive never had a problem with. on my last D8 the rubber covering the ball joint failed first before the ball joint did. they stayed solid for a good 12 months..

ive always used ebay ones £9.80 for 2 aprox. always have and always will

remember if you do the job yourself make sure you have axle stands for safety of put the wheel under the car . never just relie on the scissor jack since its been found they just collapse when the feel like it..

[scotty73]

Cheers lads, i bought a grinder when i changed the one on the micra so shouldn't have to buy anything to change them, i'll borrow axel stands off a neighbour so thats sorted too.. i'd prefer to do them myself especilly due to the fact i may have to do them again somewhere down the line.

Same goes for my handbrake really so far in just over a month i've paid to get them adjusted twice they work ok ish for a few days but i think i got a better chance getting stuck into the handbrake how to on here...The less garage fees the better i say.

My only concern with ebay is buying the wrong part with me being new to all this 406 stuff.

[mjb]

Those things are a pain in the backside, and if it's rusted, then you should really get a grinder and cut it off - it'll take hours with a hacksaw, drill, etc otherwise

I have a suspicion that the only decent replacements are from the dealers. Every other brand I've tried hasn't lasted 12 months

[dummysock]

I paid £30 from the main dealer and then noticed there were no nuts. So another £5 for a pair of nuts. I had to pay this because I had stripped down the strut to replace the top mount bearing and needed the car.

The other side was £10 from ebay

[Gary406]

you cant order wrong. front droplinks on a 4-6 are the same for both D8 and D9

heres the ones i use. they last easy 12 months. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-406-1 ... 439c7d3caf
if you dont do ebay call them guys up. they take payment over the phone. ive used them many of times this way never have problem

there is no such thing as a "genuine dealer part" its a load of bolloks. who do you think the dealer gets them from. the same manufacturers as motor factors all made in the same factory over yonder.

the ebay ones are clones / copys but they do the job perfect for 12 months. if you prefere to pay "dealer" prices then so be it but you will still be changing them again in 12 months time with the state of todays roads

[scotty73]

Cheers Gary i just clicked that link and thought they look familiar, "i saved them in my ebay about 15 minutes ago" ... i shall be ordering them ready to do one day next week... Time to did the grinder out.

[Gary406]

when you fit the new links, smear copper grease thick all over the thread and bolt. this stops them rusting up over the year and next time they "should" come off with a spanner

[scotty73]

Copper grease thats something i will have to pay for. ......

[gumby6371]

Pretty sure there are 2 types for 406. 1 has both ball joints facing sideways the other has a sideways and an inline ball joint. I did order wrong

[Gary406]

ye i know what you mean but ive never come across any1 even needing thise ones for any 406

[scotty73]

It would be just my luck that mine will need them.