Oil or gas shock absorbers ?

[DamirGTI 354]

Im in the middle of restoring 406 for my daily drive , and thinking about which shock absorbers would be best ideally to match the OE Peugeot ones .

 

As we know , Peugeot used to be pretty picky in terms of suspension and making they're own shock absorbers up to year 2004 (or 2014 ?!) from what i read , and afterwards all PSA cars now are fitted with KYB shock absorbers .

 

If im not mistaken , factory fitted shocks on 406 are twin tube oil/hydraulic type , but commonly known replacement closest to OE spec Bilistien B4 are gas filled instead classic oil/hydraulic .

 

Not sure which ones to go for , oil or gas and which brand to match the OE ride as Peugeot ones aren't available anymore .

 

Removed and checked the old ones and they're all dry , suprizingly even the bump stops and dust boots are still good with only the top mounts havnig some rubber cracking/dry root ... which made me thinking maybe the shock absorbers are still good too ?! (after 290.000 Kms)

 

 

Edited January 9 by DamirGTI

[Thijs_Rallye 89 4 Cars]

12 hours ago, DamirGTI said:

Peugeot used to be pretty picky in terms of suspension and making they're own shock absorbers up to year 2004

Afaik Peugeot used to buy Sachs or Boge dampers in that era. 

[DamirGTI 354]

They seem to be Peugeot units .

 

Theres very long 17 digit number code and Peugeot embossed on the shocks .

 

Tried to compress the shaft , it goes down with medium pressure but does not go back up on its own like gas filled shock , and while pulling the shaft back up theres resistance which seem like classic hydraulic shock .. or crapped out gas not sure .

 

From what i read , a lot of people complain that the ride was much worse/hasrh after they fitted new shocks on a 406 , likely gas filled instead straight oil shocks . 

I remember an friend of mine fitted KYB excel G on his 406 2.2 petrol and he too was a bit disappointed , the comfy OE ride was gone .

 

Sachs now offers two variants , "standard" with white sticker and "super touring" with blue sticker . Few years ago there was also version with red sticker i forgot the name for those but they where the stiffest sporty type . 

Sachs/ZF site sadly does not say much about specs in detail .

 

For comparison , i had both Sachs super touring and Bilistien B4 on my 205 and must say it drove better/nicer on Sachs .

 

Edited January 10 by DamirGTI