Strut Tops, What Are The Three Holes For?

[yorkshirekowboy 19 1 Cars]

Hello,cleaning engine bay today, took my strut brace off and there's slight bubbleing of rust around 3 holes around the whole top strut. Are they locating holes can't be? Can see any reason for them to be there. Looking on other 205 engine bay pictures, it's seems they all seem to have slight rust around these holes? I've just wire brushed the worse ones and pit some rust converter on, so will paint over with my celly paint in the morning. Is this a common issue? Regards Danny

Edited March 23, 2014 by surferkid205

[nick205 12 5 Cars]

I have a vague memory the Haynes manual mentions something about a Peugeot tool for compressing the springs that uses the holes. I could be completely wrong of course.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

There is a Peugeot tool which is some kind of steel wire rope that goes through those holes and attaches to similar holes in the lower spring pan of OE struts.

 

On a 205 I've never seen the need to use them. However on a 306 they are useful, as the geometry of the lower wishbone and subframe pressings means that you cannot physically get the balljoint pin low enough to get it out of the hub clamp. Use either Peugeots tool or as I used to, a pair of coil spring compressors to shorten the strut droop length a tad and then you can get the ball joint out.

 

Typing that brings back awful memories. I f****ng HATE working on 306's they are awful bloddy things!

[welshpug 1,657]

forgotten the 405 then tom, they're even worse!

 

thankfully most 306's I work on these days are lowered or run small diameter coilovers so they come apart easily enough

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

I didn't mind the 405, I had 3, and did a fair selection of jobs. I do remember the cambelt on the Mi16 being even more awkward in the 405 than a 205 though!

[Anthony 1,003]

I didn't mind the 405, I had 3, and did a fair selection of jobs. I do remember the cambelt on the Mi16 being even more awkward in the 405 than a 205 though!

I remember it well - the proximity of the chassis rail and the rear tensioner was hard work even with skinny little hands. I've still got the sump plug tool that I had to cut in half specially for the job.

 

I don't mind 306's to work on though for the most part - the big exception for me is trying to do anything behind the engine on an HDi as there's absolutely no space whatsoever. I don't think I've ever sworn as much as when I was trying to get the wastegate actuator arm back onto the turbo on my estate.