306 suspension tuning.

[ihatesissycars]

Ok, I've got myself a cheap 3dr 306 hack however my tinkering bug has come out to play!

I can't leave anything alone so I'd like to turn this into a fast road use type motor.

I don't want to touch the engine, just the suspension.

What upgrades are best then?

Gti6 dampers?

Gti6 roll bars?

Larger dia' rear torsion bars?

Brakes from another model peugeot?

Talk to me!

[PhillipM]

Just bolt a GTi6 rear beam on (bigger torsion bars/arbs), same with the dampers all around, and the front brakes from a '6 will fit if you got at least 15" alloys too.

[ihatesissycars]

Cool beans I'll get on it.

Re fitting a gti6 lump later on, do you know if I am stuck with just the six speed box or will any 306 gearbox fit?

[PhillipM]

You can fit the box from the other 306 XU-series engines if you don't want to have to change the steering rack for the 6-speed, yes.

[number2301]

Regarding the gearbox, it does depend what engine you've got. If it's a 1.8 or 2.0 you'll definately be able to keep your existing box. If it's a 1.4 or smaller you won't. Not sure on the 1.6, if the inlet manifold is at the front you've got an XU and you'll be fine. If not it's a TU and you won't be able to keep the box

[ihatesissycars]

It has a 1.4 TU atm but rather than use the 6 speed box I'd rather use the 5 due to reliability and the rack issue you guys have made me aware of (thank you!).

What about drive shafts? Any issues there?

I have aplan involving a 16v lump, megasquirt and some motor bike throttle bodies I've done it before, was semi successful and so I want to try it again!

How about brakes, I had visions of boxster radial mount calipers with some home made adaptors meaning I can actually make use of my milling machine! Re the rear brakes, it has a drum setup atm, if I were to use my beam, would I need to replace my trailing arms? Only reason I ask the latter is that there are some gti6 torsion bars and roll bar on egay as we type.

[number2301]

You can't use the TU box with the 6 engine, but you wouldn't want to as they're toss. If you want a 5 speed have a look for a Xsara VTS box, the Xsara had the same engine.

I am not certain what you'd have to do with the hubs and driveshafts but I think you would have to swap them over, and even if you don't have to you should because the 1.4 shafts would be too weak.

As for brakes there's no reason to go beyond 6 spec but as there's no reason to modify a base model to 6 spec instead of just buying a 6 we'll ignore that bit. You could go for 406 v6 Brembos for a bit of bling.

With regards to the rear beam, on 205s at least you can swap GTI bars into base model beam tubes and vice versa with the only real difference being the brakes (and trailing arms I think). So if 306s are the same you could just swap the bars over and stick with the drums as they don't do anything anyway. If you missed those bars you'd usually just end up buying a full rear beam anyway.

[PhillipM]

As above, the gti6 brakes are good on their own, but if you're going to larger wheels then brembo calipers from a 406 fit with xantia V6 discs, plenty of aftermarket kits for Wilwoods that fit under stock wheels with standard discs, up to 2-piece ~340mm AP's available though.