Rear suspension, torsion bar to mcpherson

[Insanity-74]

I am doing some research into a future build, i am not yet a 306 owner, but while i wait for space on the driveway (and permission from the misses....or when she isnt looking) i am trying to gather as much info as i can so i can crack on with the project when the time arrives, looking at the rally maxi they had the torsion bar system removed and replaced with a more traditional mcpherson type set up. Aside from the fabrication practicalities (have welder will travel) is there any advantage or disadvantage to doing this? Or is it better to get a wider tracked torsion bar? I am not a fan of adding spacers so trying to avoid doing that. What is the general recommendation? Even better, has anyone done this conversion before and have pictures?

[welshpug]

maxi did not use a mcpherson strut, just a much stronger beam assembly, still trailing arm with torsion bars, iirc some variants used an additional coil spring on the dampers mounted in the same location as standard.

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Without going significantly wider up front the rear will be finesat standard width.

[Insanity-74]

Ah, that makes things alot easier, i thought the images looked a bit odd but that makes sence now.....thank you Certainly one less thing to worry about. Although i remember changing the ride hieght on both my 205xs and GTI years ago, i hope the job gets easier with experience i remeber it being a bit of a struggle.

[tigerstyle]

there was a company (maybe an individual?) developing an independent rear setup for the 306, I posted a vid from their youtube on it but can't find the link now, fully custom job.

[Insanity-74]

Okay I will look out for it. I just did a google image search for the rear suspension, clearly some of the images are not even Peugeot related, i did see what looked similar to a peugeot set up with some custom fabricating with a spring used in a vertical position, but i didnt click on it to see what it actually was and i cant find it again. But if the standard torsion beam set up was used then i am more than happy to keep that, it will save some fettling.......i think i can remember where the slide hammer is

[adam b]

What are you doing with the car that needs the torsion bars removing?
Apart from the difficulty in damping and height adjustment it works otherwise

[Insanity-74]

What are you doing with the car that needs the torsion bars removing?
Apart from the difficulty in damping and height adjustment it works otherwise

Nothing yet, i am hoping to make it into a rally car, I guess i should wait until i get the homologation papers before planning ahead. i should also see what passed as homologation in the Maxi days that is still current , i know roll cage regs have changed since then.

[welshpug]

standard 306 setup IS independent.

[Rippthrough]

....an independent rear setup for the 306....

....an independent rear setup for the 306....

....an independent rear setup for the 306....

Oh for f***s sake. Not again.

[Magenta Sunset]

just an idle thought, instead of McPherson, how about a beam & coil-spring set-up, like under the back of Combo vans etc?
chop out all the mounting points & inner arches (as rqd), & carefully measure alignment to weld in.

[thododd]

http://www.satchellengineering.co.uk/106...n-kit.html
Not for a 306, but if there was enough interest im sure sandy and colin would oblige

[Piggy]

just an idle thought, instead of McPherson, how about a beam & coil-spring set-up, like under the back of Combo vans etc?
chop out all the mounting points & inner arches (as rqd), & carefully measure alignment to weld in.

So going backwards in development!?

[thododd]

Not sure its backwards Piggy.

Many 106s and 205s have been turretted to allow greater damper control and bring the wheel rate to damper travel to 1:1

[Insanity-74]

http://www.satchellengineering.co.uk/106...n-kit.html
Not for a 306, but if there was enough interest im sure sandy and colin would oblige

Thats an interesting set up for sure. I like it.

I was looking again a couple of days ago and came across what looked like a 205 where someone had put in mcpherson suspension turrets. It was an impressive bit of fabrication. 

I would have to look into it a bit more, i am not sure there would be much benefit for a tarmac rally car/track car.
 
I think widening the track is one of my main concerns, i am sure there are kits available but i havnt looked into it much yet. (I hate wheel spacers so need to find an alternative)

 My firstborn is due on monday  and i want to get my current project underway before i get too involved with the 306 project....saying that i have figured out some of what i want to do ( in theory anyway. )   only the suspension set up and brakes remain a bit of a mystery.....and most of the interior

[welshpug]

Not sure its backwards Piggy.

Many 106s and 205s have been turretted to allow greater damper control and bring the wheel rate to damper travel to 1:1

thats a bit different to the non independent beams on vag and gm stuff.

[Stef205]

Not sure its backwards Piggy.

Many 106s and 205s have been turretted to allow greater damper control and bring the wheel rate to damper travel to 1:1

when they are turreted they still use the oem beam etc, most cars like vags use a solid beam with independent setup

[Magenta Sunset]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vauxha...1Yyr1JM%3A

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vauxha...jLElGfM%3A

[Stef205]

not sure why youd want to replace one of the best handling rears with that!

[Magenta Sunset]

there is that.
mind, my van is pretty chuckable down the back roads

[adam b]

Their main problem is the damper angle. That and bearings going south

[Magenta Sunset]

a lot of bikes have sloping shox, gives a longer travel on a shorter shock (trailies)

[welshpug]

not ideal at all though.