French Car Forum

normaly if you look at top mounts you can see the rubber starting to split on xantias at that point its time to change top mounts

scottishpaul wrote:normaly if you look at top mounts you can see the rubber starting to split on xantias at that point its time to change top mounts

how does one go about doing this?

davoxx wrote:

scottishpaul wrote:normaly if you look at top mounts you can see the rubber starting to split on xantias at that point its time to change top mounts

how does one go about doing this?

Set the car on high, get down on your knees by the front wheel and look up under the wheel arch.
See if you can gently peel back the rubber if it's split to see the rusty metal.

Or do you mean how do you swap them?

Set the car on high, get the front up on axle stands, set it on low, depressurise, remove front spheres, remove metal pipe, remove plastic cap that protects the piston's nut, remove the nut, remove the 4 bolts holding the strut top to the inner wing, remove the rubber bump stop.
Hardest part of fitting new ones was keeping the piston up enough (bloody slippery when covered in LHM, a cloth or kitchen towel wrapped around it provided grip) to re-fit the nut

Xac wrote:

davoxx wrote:

scottishpaul wrote:normaly if you look at top mounts you can see the rubber starting to split on xantias at that point its time to change top mounts

how does one go about doing this?

Set the car on high, get down on your knees by the front wheel and look up under the wheel arch.
See if you can gently peel back the rubber if it's split to see the rusty metal.

Or do you mean how do you swap them?

Set the car on high, get the front up on axle stands, set it on low, depressurise, remove front spheres, remove metal pipe, remove plastic cap that protects the piston's nut, remove the nut, remove the 4 bolts holding the strut top to the inner wing, remove the rubber bump stop.
Hardest part of fitting new ones was keeping the piston up enough (bloody slippery when covered in LHM, a cloth or kitchen towel wrapped around it provided grip) to re-fit the nut

yeah sorry how to swap them/repair them ...

you might find also before removeing the 4 strut top mounting nuts, and just slacken the centre strut piston nut and give it a sharp blow with a hammer , but place a block of wood on the top before the hammer,

regards malcolm

Hmmm. Another one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110910596986" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ay up!

Check this out:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-XANTI ... 3a78081104" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just checked Gracies' after reading this, and I am glad to say hers are fine.

Hmm, interesting read, arrrgh. I've been busy with my other car to try have my classic as spare car but want to give this mk1 some love soon since its now my only daily! Problem with this is I can't really work on it for days/weeks/months... Does anyone offer a service of replacing these. Judging by the thread maybe not... I'm in north west so anywhere considered for a fair price and good service... Cheers

Do a search for Kingas. They do re-furbish strut tops, and include an addition that prevents them spearing the bonnet.

Thanks I spotted their name crop up. Seems a long way to send them. I'd sort of wondered about pulling mine off and getting a local very good quality welder to fix them... Hmm

Yes, but Kingas also (as far as I can tell) completely refurbish the strut tops, replacing the rubber, and fitting an anti spear component.

Hmm, sounds good certainly, have people used these guys? Just seems risky sending a part off out of the country. I expect they are all real and good but be mad to ignore that...
Though with that in mind, and a strip down on the car, it wouldn't be a hard job really.(?) Just off the road a couple of weeks, including a day refitting... Hmm

reanimation wrote:Hmm, sounds good certainly, have people used these guys? Just seems risky sending a part off out of the country.

Yes, I can certify from personal experience that he's absolutely fine and kosher. We XM owners rely on him as strut tops for the XM are now beyond our reach from Citroen.

The quality of his work is beyond reproach so go ahead with confidence.

reanimation wrote: Though with that in mind, and a strip down on the car, it wouldn't be a hard job really.(?) Just off the road a couple of weeks, including a day refitting... Hmm

you will be better off sourcing a pair from a breakers yard, send them off for a referb,
this way firstly if your have still got some life left in them, just have a thorough look at them to check there condition,

it is usually quite obvious when they arte getting to the end of there life,

secondly you could just swap the referbd tops over once you get them back, regardless of the condition of the ones on the car at the mo,

reanimation wrote: I'd sort of wondered about pulling mine off and getting a local very good quality welder to fix them... Hmm

it dosent matter how good the welder is, these can not really just be welded to fix them, as they are constucted out of two separate metal pieces bonded together with rubber,