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Posted: 16 Aug 2006, 19:48
by davethewheel
anyone know if all the mark 1 xantias use the same strut tops as i recently fiited a new pair to my 1.9td xantia and i'm planning on using them on my 2.1td xantia :)

Posted: 16 Aug 2006, 21:16
by AndersDK
Believe they are the same - provided both cars are/were either SX or VSX spec.
SX spec cars does NOT have hydractive suspension - thus a standard 3.5mm pipe port in the sphere support.
VSX spec is hydractive and have the 10mm pipe port.
They are NOT interchangeable.
The V6 models have yet a 3.rd type strut top.

Posted: 16 Aug 2006, 22:08
by davethewheel
cheers anders, both cars are sx spec and have 3.5mm pipes so it all looks good. :)

Posted: 16 Aug 2006, 22:18
by Kowalski
There is a 4th type of strut top that Anders didn't mention, its the non-power steering ones, they're not very common.

Posted: 16 Aug 2006, 22:43
by davethewheel
a none power steering xantia Surely there isn't such a beast :shock:

Posted: 16 Aug 2006, 23:04
by Ross_K
Some of the very early 1.6 Xantias were without that particular luxury. You think a ZX with no power steering is heavy? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Posted: 17 Aug 2006, 07:53
by mezuk04
So its literally only the struts that need replaced and of course the bonnet. I cant help thinking that areas around the wheel would be affected.

Posted: 17 Aug 2006, 09:47
by davethewheel
strut tops, bonnet and may have damaged the pipe that runs into the strut top although this usually just bends :)

Posted: 17 Aug 2006, 12:51
by citronut
mezuk04 wrote:So its literally only the struts that need replaced and of course the bonnet. I cant help thinking that areas around the wheel would be affected.
no prob with this area as its just realy the strut top which hold all of the load of the ram,so when it goes it just lets the ran go up throgh,it dose look more dramatic than it realy is
regards malcolm

Posted: 17 Aug 2006, 13:21
by Neil Taylor
citronut wrote:the strut top will go anyway with out going over lumps and bumps,and with good spheres,its just all of these things will help it on its way a bit sooner,also do not put any oil around good strut tops to try and keep them good,as all that will do is rot the rubber bonded to the metal
regards malcolm
Well I didn't have the benefit of this advice when I did it, not that they were particularly good anyway. I know that oil rots rubber, but are they rubber, or are they like most of these things like engine mountings that naturally get oily, a synthetic compound like neoprene? Have you seen the 'rubber' at the stut tops actually damaged from oil Malcolm? If so, I'll do my best to clean up the rubber!

Posted: 09 Nov 2006, 22:36
by andmcit
TIME FOR A REMINDER FOR THOSE WHO'VE NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE!?

Thought I'd resurrect this thread after the mention in the chat section!!

Actually, I've just seen a mate's 'new' old ebay purchase and the struts are
TOTALLY DODGY on that too - he wasn't happy when I immediately pointed
out the fault and potential cost with Christmas looming ever closer!! :lol:

Told him to ask his missus for a new pair for Christmas! And some strut tops
too... :lol: :oops:

Andrew

Front strut tops

Posted: 11 Nov 2006, 00:28
by mrjohnson
Just bought a '99 Xantia HDi estate.

Having looked through the forum for 'things to check', this looks like one of the main ones.

Took a look this evening. Looked fine until I peeled the rubber cover back underneath the wing. It's still solid enough but with significant surface rusting. I'd like to stop it getting worse.

I'm tempted to take off the rubber cover from underneath completely, wirebrush it, and paint liberally with Hammerite (bonds to rusty surface) to completely seal it underneath, then waxoil from the top. The rubber cover - great for trapping moisture - goes in the bin.

Opinions?

Cheers,

Martyn

Posted: 11 Nov 2006, 03:04
by JohnCKL
I always thought the new strut mountings are re engineered not to totally break off, separate and spear the bonnet in the case they do break but have a curved suface so it would still hang on. Can this be confirmed or is the design for the new strut mounting still the same as the old?

Posted: 11 Nov 2006, 07:57
by Mandrake
The new replacement ones are definately redesigned somewhat, but whether they would prevent the bonnet being speared in the event of the rubber failing is anyones guess... :roll:

I guess we'll find out in another 10 years or so!!

Regards,
Simon

Posted: 12 Nov 2006, 10:46
by andmcit
JohnCKL wrote:I always thought the new strut mountings are re engineered not to totally break off, separate and spear the bonnet in the case they do break but have a curved suface so it would still hang on. Can this be confirmed or is the design for the new strut mounting still the same as the old?
I think unlike the Bx, the diameter of the main strut is always going to be
smaller than the design of any Xantia's top crown so it'll pierce through if
the rust is allowed to take hold. The rubberised cover on the weathered
side of the wheelarch is always going to be the key area of suspect failure
- especially when the key damage is only normally noticed when the
rubber peels back - too late for the real damage has taken place beneath it.

At the end of the day this will always be an area to watch on a Xantia
and Xm as it is a weak point in the design that wont get any better with
weathering and the attendant stresses that are being borne by it.

Just like rusting bodywork etc elsewhere all you can do is attend to
coat/protect the vulnerable areas and be aware what to look out for
and rectify as time goes on. Another area of concern on Xm's and
possibly Xantiae is rusting of the rear subframe - it would be a mistake
to believe these cars CANNOT rust so no protection/rectifiaction will be
required. I've seen a few Xm's with bizzare rust spots in the same place
on both main outer sills too...

Andrew