One of the things I like about SWMBO's 306 1.8 SR Sedan is the wonderfully direct steering and fluid body control. Quite outstanding for an otherwise pretty ordinary device. (Another thing has been the amazingly low running costs and absolute reliablity, but that's incidental here)
Driving it the other day however, I became convinced that it's become far more road surface sensitive than before.
For example, accelerating hard in third gear to overtake another car, on passing over the crown of the (very familiar to me) road, the Pug positively leapt towards the right hand edge of the road. Also, under braking on rutted roads, it has started to tramline where previously the skinny 165 tyres took no notice.
All four tyre pressures are normal, all four tyres have perfect wear patterns, and no brake is binding.
The only thing I can think of is that nearly ten years from new (though only 22k miles), suspension bushes or joints are wearing.
Other than a very tiny clunk when cresting the 1" ridge in to our garage, the suspension is silent, but does any Pug expert Backroomer have a tip for me to check? (Yes I will use axle stands)
Many thanks as always.
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The tiny clunk could be your wishbone bushes, as I experienced similar effects on mine at 122k. Also on hard braking I would occcasionally get the clunk. Steering and handling was much improved on replacing wishbones. If interested do a forum search on "replacing pug 306 wishbone".
May aswell replace your anti-roll bar drop-links, easy enough job.
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When my 95M 306 hatch had its first MoT at the dealer's, they replaced both front lower suspension arms at (I think) 26K miles (£75 each plus fitting) because the bushes were not a separate item. At the time I found this unlikely in view of the vehicle's history, and assumed that this was the 'job of the month' to reduce overstocks of the part. Maybe your car has developed the same wear?
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I myself blame the "traffic calming" road bumps. I think they contribute to much more wear and tear on suspension/wishbone than mileage alone.
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your front wishbone inner rear bushes have gone , i used to have a 306 xtdt that i drove rather enthusistically , these bushes used to go on a regular basis , first signs being an unexpected change of lane on motorway. Easy enough to change but bushes not availible from peugeot , readily availible from your local Partco etc. Dont make the mistake i did and upgrade to a 307 , doesnt handle or drive anywhere near as good as the 306 and drinks diesel at an alarming rate.
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See pics of the offending bushes in my sig....
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
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After looking at the photos and the comments, it makes me wonder if these bushes are the cause of the clunking on my 405 on bad road surfaces. Sounds a common problem. However the car seems to handle fine.
Steve.
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Just read the various replies after a short business trip to Paris (Leaving Heathrow via Watford expecting a nice cruise controlled run home, but found the M25 to be stationary for miles, at midnight, because of a short stretch of minor roadworks....! Jeez.)
Many thanks for the advice given.
Will have a general look and prod at the weekend, with particular emphasis on the wishbone bushes.
Cheers!
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Clunking noises from 405 front suspension assemblies come from the top suspension mounting, the shock absorber itself, anti roll bar bushes and bottom ball joints. They're not in any order at all, but can all contribute to general noises.
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
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Hmm makes me wonder how it passed it's test now. Was tested at a Peugeot dealer, that said it does drive well. Must spend some time investigating. Thanks for the pointers!
Steve.
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wishbone bushes and anti roll bar bushes often go in pugs ,wishbone bushes make a clonking noise when going and anti roll bar bushes make a noise when braking
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Okay, to close the loop, and thereby thank those who tried to help:
Yesterday I had the Pug looked at by a very thorough Peugeot specialist. The brief was to try and establish why the car had gone from having wonderfully lithe and fluid handling, to having a floaty state of road camber and power application nervousness, as well as to give it a pre-MOT once over (or once 'under', actually!) whilst up in the air.
What he found was embarrassing!
I never trust garage tyre pressure gauges, and instead use an expensive rotary gauge from my motor racing days. It appears, however, that it's actually seen better days... Whereas I thought that the car had been running at 33 psi, it had in fact been running at 25 psi. Absolutely nothing else was wrong, and all suspension bushes, bolts, bearings, or whatever are in full rude health!
With properly inflated tyres, the car is now back to its pin-sharp, but nice and supple, former self. No floating, no wallowing, no vagueness, no road camber over-sensitivity, no power over-sensitivity. All for the want of 8 psi! I wish the solution to every motoring problem was so inexpensive!
BTW, the minor clonk that occasionally happens on moving off from rest, especially before and after using reverse gear, has been traced to very slight driveshaft wear. Not enough to worry about yet.
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