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Posted: 01 Jul 2006, 23:40
by andmcit
rossnunn wrote:mmm best check ours then.
I've seen this before, apparently the guy was doing 60 on the motorway when it let go, nearly gave him a heart attack. He said that apart from him ducking the xant stayed stright & true right up until he came to a rather hasty stop on the hard shoulder.
Wonder if this is why the McPherson strut Citroens were designed to have TWO catches on the bonnet instead of the older car's single!!
Maybe the double wishbones suspension designer got moved on to a different section of the design engineering department and built in some vestigal failsafe when he saw the strut design!!
Andrew
Posted: 01 Jul 2006, 23:45
by LeeDJC
andmcit wrote:rossnunn wrote:mmm best check ours then.
I've seen this before, apparently the guy was doing 60 on the motorway when it let go, nearly gave him a heart attack. He said that apart from him ducking the xant stayed stright & true right up until he came to a rather hasty stop on the hard shoulder.
Wonder if this is why the McPherson strut Citroens were designed to have TWO catches on the bonnet instead of the older car's single!!
Maybe the double wishbones suspension designer got moved on to a different section of the design engineering department and built in some vestigal failsafe when he saw the strut design!!
Andrew
PMSL!!
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 00:24
by Whitecrook
here's a picture of the strut that failed my MOT. Should be changing it at the weekend...
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 00:33
by rossnunn
looks like you were a lucky bunny!
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 00:37
by andmcit
Crikey, you caught it just in time!!
Out of interest what's the other side like? Is this the nearside pictured?
You can actually SEE the thickness of the metal collar is halved in the large flakes still held by the rubber shrouding.
Andrew
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 00:40
by andmcit
rossnunn wrote:looks like you were a lucky bunny!
Don't think lucky is
quite the right word, but yes, lucky it DIDN'T rearrange the bonnet whilst at speed!
Andrew
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 01:50
by Whitecrook
Hmm that's the offside. The n/s I'll maybe get a picture of tommorrow but it doesn't look as bad.
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 11:58
by andmcit
The offside went on the VSX Xantia and the Xm, but just to buck the trend the one on an SX was the NEARSIDE so no pattern then!
Andrew
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 13:04
by davek-uk
Yea, I was wondering if there was a pattern too. I'm sad to see this is beginning to happen to 1996 cars, it makes my 1997 seem less indestructable. I have had a quick look in the past but may examine them more carefully now!
I'd like to see more pictures of exactly what to check if anyone has good pics handy.
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 13:21
by andmcit
It's simple enough - the flat plate that has the four bolts attached through it to the wheelarch tears away thanks to the rust roughly around the red circumference/collar area. The green line is an approximate cross section outline of the top with the vertical part covering the rubber donut (in grey) that also fatigues and tears.
Andrew
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 13:29
by LeeDJC
I think that this thread should be made a sticky. Basically so this thread is promenant and does not get lost over time.
I think it's important that people are aware of this potentially dangerous failure, how to diagnose it, and how to fix it.
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 14:13
by davek-uk
Thanks for that simple explanation, Andrew - I needed it
. I didn't realise the plate, rubber doughnut and strut top come as a single unit - how typical.
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 16:04
by andmcit
I guess for the sake of completeness off another thread there's this covering additional prices and some of the part numbers for what I believe is correct for a HYDRACTIVE saloon:
andmcit wrote:Now this is interesting! I've gone into the online Citroen parts site and checked out what I can determine is the right one, although I cannot see a specific reference to estate, so it may just be down to the sphere's being different.
02 5271 E2 LEFT SPHERE BRACKET
- POWER STEERING AND HYDRACTIVE SUSPENSION
+ 5271 92 (01) TO O 6610
- POWER STEERING AND HYDRACTIVE SUSPENSION
+ 5271 92 (01) TO O 7244
HYD SUSPENSION SPHERE BRACKET £76.15
£89.48 with VAT
Cannot imagine why there's been so many different prices quoted. I go to my local gau and give him the part number and the price they charge me is the price that's listed!!
Andrew
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 21:07
by D.Slatford
I think that this thread should be made a sticky. Basically so this thread is promenant and does not get lost over time.
Defintely, that gets my vote! I got my O/S strut top changed today, and took the old top back with me. While it isn't yet critical it's well on the way. I'd never have known about this without this thread. Thank you, all!
It didn't cost me much to have it done either. £130 at a local Citroen independant got me a new strut top (priced at £102 for the part itself from Ctiroen) and coolant flush, as I was feeling lazy.
He also lubed both struts, and while the ride is definately smoother for now it still creaks like a spanish galleon
Posted: 04 Jul 2006, 21:19
by rossnunn
Can you take the metal plate off the rest of the strut top?
I'm thinking there is a engineering place near the that will galvanise most stuff & he'll guarantee it'll not rot again.