tyre wear

[Catflem]

I'm working my way through some of the faults on my recently acquired bargain 406 hdi estate. At the moment I'm concentrating on the bits that will cost me points on my licence

The tyres have a bald stripe about an inch wide on the inner edge (about 6mm depth on the rest of the tyre !), so clearly something is seriously amiss. I've searched the forum for previous postings and they seem to point to knackered trailing arm bushes....... but as you know these 406's seem to have bushes and drop links all over the backend.

So what do you guys recommend as the order of work

1. Get a 4 wheel alignment and suspension check done (£60), and then replace any suspect bushes that they point out. The danger being that I may end up having to get the alignment done twice (£120 !) if the faults pointed out involve changing parts that upset the alignment already done.

or

2. Try and identify where the fault(s) lie myself, change the bushes that I think need changing, and then submit it for a 4 wheel alignment. The danger being that I might mis-identify the problem and go through the aggro of changing bushes/links that were fine.

or

any better suggestions..........

[CountryPug]

I have the same problem with my car, wears the inside of the rear passenger side tyre. Im going to put my car in for wheel alignment as I've already replaced most of the links and bushes at that corner.

[omega]

when you look at the rear wheels from the back is there any camber on them?

[Catflem]

when you look at the rear wheels from the back is there any camber on them?

Its difficult to tell at the moment.

The road outside my place has a massive amount of camber on it, so its hard to say whether the wheels are pointing directly up.

I'll find a bit of flat ground tomorrow and have a better look.

[teamster1975]

It's the top stabiliser link rod, the one with the cam on it for adjusting camber. I had exactly the same problem, the inner shoulders were completely bald.
Jack the wheel up and you'll feel a lot of play in it. Easy DIY job to fix but you will need to get the camber set properly at a tyre shop.

[Catflem]

Thanks for that Teamster

Presumably its this part http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

Well, I hope it is cos I've just ordered a pair....... but at a tenner a pair delivered, it won't be a tragedy if there are other faults at the rear.

I've just changed the front droplinks, so it makes sense that the rears would be on their way out as well.

I'll get them fitted and then stick it in for the 4 wheel alignment check.

The ironic thing is that even with faulty front and rear droplinks, the 406 still corners better than my old V40

[Catflem]

Bow locks........... and double Bow locks !!!!!

The poxy bolt that goes through the stabiliser link rod has just sheared. The nearest stealer is 20 odd miles away, and its 2 hours and 2 buses to get there.

If you're going to attempt this job, plan to have a spare bolt available

[marty1979]

The same happened to me the other day when I was preparing the car for mot (it passed by the way), nearside went well but the bolt on the offside sheared, luckily I had a few same sized bolts lying around and it was sorted easily. Liberal amounts of WD40 made little or no difference, I suppose when it's time is up, it's time is up

[Catflem]

I've had a few bolts shear on my classics, which is only to be expected on a 40 year old bolt.

My 406 is 8 years old, but I think the main problem is that its lived its life alongside the Scottish coast......... if fishing boats rust out what chance has French metal got

The local scrappy has a 406, so I'm on the bus in the morning, but I felt a right knob phoning him up for a bolt

Edit

Popped along to the breakers and managed to get the bolt off without shearing it, the price was a mere pound. BUT, the bloody bus fare was £4.40 return for a 4 mile journey !!!!!!!.

That kinda puts fuel prices into perspective