You see, I'd just picked it up from the garage where they'd fitted my rear discs, pads and shoes, and they've done a very smart job on it! My 406 feels like a brand new car! The noise difference is astounding (the brakes really were very, very bad) and the handbrake is lovely and sharp - they even managed to lock the wheels from about 5mph! The drive's a lot smoother too and it actually coasts now!
2 hours at £42/hr and £15 for the pads (oops forgot to buy them before) from a tiny local Citroen/Fiat specialist in Stoke, and the handbrake's even perfectly balanced. Not a hint of sideways motion stopping half way up the steepest road I know of. The guys there were friendly too and knew their stuff so guess who's got the job of my MOT at the weekend, and my cambelt change when I have the cash

The place is Simon Dean Motor Services - http://www.simon-dean.co.uk/ - definitely recommended!