Another "speared" Xantia strut top...Check YOURS!

[andmcit]

Oh dear me!

"Coming over a hump back bridge, the front n/s suspension strut ripped
free of (obviously rotten) mounting and drove up into under side of bonnet."







Like I said - this problem isn't going to go away any time soon...

Andrew

[citronut]

Guys, GSF can get these top mounts, its just they arent a stock listed item and therefore cant be sold to customers.....yet.

I have asked the Citroen product manager to get me a price for a pair of top mounts for mine so i can see what kind of money they come in at.

He doesnt seem to think there is much cause to get them in as a stock item, as during his time at Citroen...10 years he hasnt come across more than 1 or 2 that needed changing.

I will keep this updated if there is a chance that these will become available through GSF.

Vince did you get any prices on strut tops from GSF
REGARDS MALCOLM

[reblack68]

Wasn't there somebody selling repair kits for these? From memory it was the metal part and some glue to stick your existing rubber on. I've a feeling it was somebody in Sweden.

Can anybody remember and is it still possible to get them?

[citronut]

Wasn't there somebody selling repair kits for these? From memory it was the metal part and some glue to stick your existing rubber on. I've a feeling it was somebody in Sweden.

Can anybody remember and is it still possible to get them?

i did not see that but there were some strut top arrester brakets/straps some one conckockted
regards malcolm

[Clogzz]

somebody in Sweden

The Swedish repair job was for the XM only.

http://w1.431.telia.com/~u43116231/

strut top arrester brackets

http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13798

[andmcit]

As far as the Xm kit goes, I understand from a lister on the club-xm
forum buying them in at a still substantial price saying they were
effectively a replacement for the mounting plate collar and needed the
existing rubber donut reglued/mounted onto it thus requiring the rubber
to be in good order. Sorry, for all the effort, expense and anxiety of using
the rebuilt strut top I'd rather do the job properly! Same goes for the
arrester bracket; isn't this a bit like turning the volume of the radio up
as there's a nasty noise coming from the engine!?

Andrew

[andmcit]

What actually may happen with this bracket, although it looks like a great
failsafe, is a restriction on the actual movement of the strut top on the rubber
donut which WILL effect the dynamics/stresses in the strut - have you seen
the range of movement on the strut head on full lock to lock? Get someone
to show you and get an idea of the stresses and strains fed through it;
there's no wonder they tear themselves apart!

Andrew

[citronut]

i quite agree Andrew
it looks like all it dose is saves the bonnet if the strut top lets go,

one of my customer cars i repaired was a bit of a heap, so all i did after fixing the strut top was pressed the bonneet flat with a lump of wood under the front end laying on the slam panle, i was supprised as you realy would not have noticed it had been bent
regards malcolm

[reblack68]

I have arrester brackets fitted to mine, the previous owner had it done after reading this thread. You're right in saying that all they will do is preserve the bonnet.

I don't see it as turning up the volume to hide engine noise, I see it as more like wearing a seat belt. It's best not to crash and we do all we can to avoid it but we can't be sure so we wear a seat belt to minimise the damage if it does happen.

My brackets do foul slightly on full lock but not in normal driving.

[citronut]

the strut top is ment to be able to move freely, so from what i have seen of these arrester brackets they do restrict this free movement, that must mean it will affect the drive/handling IMO
regards malcolm

[MikeT]

I'm too lazy to re-read the whole thread but I'm anxious to know if the Mk2's also suffer this serious failure?

[CitroJim]

I'm too lazy to re-read the whole thread but I'm anxious to know if the Mk2's also suffer this serious failure?

Mike, don't quote me but I believe they do although there is a rumour that the MK2 ones are a little different in design and the new ones you buy now are to this new design.

So far, it seems it's confined mainly to the older Xantias but time will tell..

[reblack68]

the strut top is ment to be able to move freely, so from what i have seen of these arrester brackets they do restrict this free movement, that must mean it will affect the drive/handling IMO
regards malcolm

It's only on full lock that they touch on mine, and I think it's only one. Mine sit higher than the ones pictured, and I think they could stand to sit higher yet so they don't touch at all. I'll be looking at that in due course. My car is quite an unusual colour and I would struggle to get a matching bonnet.

[andmcit]

Mine sit higher than the ones pictured, and I think they could stand to sit higher yet so they don't touch at all. I'll be looking at that in due course. My car is quite an unusual colour and I would struggle to get a matching bonnet.

I know exactly where you're coming from as I still can't find a black bonnet
for my Activa after a few weeks of concentrated effort; what colour is yours
then as it looks like an estate I'm just about to break for spares is the same
blue.

IF

the brace/arrestor is a reasonable clearance from the strut head and
the bonnet it may well be a decent failsafe insurance I guess; does this
mean you're waiting for your strut to let go as there's an element of doubt
about it!?

Andrew

[reblack68]

The colour of my car is a very dark grey, most people think it's black. I've been told they only made them that colour for a year or so.

I'm waiting for the strut to let go in the same way I'm waiting for a crash when I put my seatbelt on, to return to the analogy I used earlier. I think the strut tops are OK but there's always an element of doubt. If GSF do decide to supply them and the price is right I'll probably fit a new pair.