Knocking noise

[johnd]

Noticed a knocking noise yesterday on the offside front end and when driving home from work yesterday morning the handling didn't feel right. I had a susp it was the drop link or track rod arm so took the pug to the local motosave and they confirmed it was the drop link arm. Asked them how much to change it they quoted me £40 all in, as I needed the car for nights decided to get the job done. I was going try my self as I could have got a drop link from ebay alot cheaper but not too confident fixing the car myself it only took them 15mins to replace. Ididn't think the price was too bad or are you all going to tell me I've been fleeced and the repair is easy enough for a person that uses a hammer for every diy he does.

[steve_earwig]

Pug did mine ( ), I took it there for a diagnosis as you did and was in two minds whether to do it myself or not (labour's pretty cheap here). In the end it needed two mechanics and an oxyacetylene cutter, so I'm kind of glad they did it. Ok, maybe yours was a doddle but you could very easily have ended up with a dead car and had an expensive time of it, I think if you'd have asked on here before if it was worth 40 quid to have it done I'd have said definitely.

[Welly]

I agree - £40.00 and it's all done!

If I tried fitting something like this my tools would let me down, I would let me down, and the car would be immobile so I allways use a garage now. My car costs me nothing else so I dont baulk too much at the odd bill (like my recent £125.00 road spring) that was the first repair cost in 12 months for me.

Just remembered my oil need changing

[mbell666]

I tried to do one of mine one, ended up rounding the allen key bolt on the bottom. so ended taking it to garage so they could cut it off. £40 quid sound ok, can't remeber what it cost me i think £20 to 30 as i already had the part.

[puggy]

for years the only time my motorbikes and cars went into a garage was for
a mot i always worked on them myself until a bout of ill health stopped me.
I've done a few jobs on the 406 myself but for £40 i wouldn't even get my hands
dirty , you did well cos its a job that sometimes can be a right twat !!!

[teamster1975]

I was going try my self as I could have got a drop link from ebay alot cheaper but not too confident fixing the car myself it only took them 15mins to replace. Ididn't think the price was too bad or are you all going to tell me I've been fleeced and the repair is easy enough for a person that uses a hammer for every diy he does.

You did ok for £40, it's a bastard of a job. The nylock nuts corrode onto the balljoint and you are supposed to use an allen key to stop the balljoint spinning while you loosen off the nut.
Needless to say the allen rounds off and you are left with either cutting the f*cker off with a dremel or geting some mole grips around the balljoint (which I did). Ratchet spanners make life a LOT easier! While you're at it you should change the anti-rollbar bushes, mine were totally disintegrated.