Rear suspension arms

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 30 Jul 2005, 21:59

Hi all, Question.....
Are the rear suspension arms from a Xantia estate the same as the saloon? and will they fit onto a saloon? They look the same, both same spec. I have checked pr-net but not too clear about it. The bearings seem to be going on my Xantia saloon, creaking as it rises up and going over bumps. I have found an estate that I can get them off for only £45 if I remove the myself.
Can you help?
Paul.
Forgot to say it's the nearside rear arm.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 31 Jul 2005, 00:22

The bearings on the saloon are different to those on the estate. The estate ones are slightly bigger, therefore the kits GSF do are of no use to estate owners. GSF do the estate bearings but the plastic spacers need to be obtained from Citroen.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 31 Jul 2005, 00:30

If the donor car has done any sort of mileage they might be in a similar condition. New bearings are not to difficult to fit, you can get the outer ring out of the arm quite easily by running some weld, with a stick welder, around the inside of it, when it colls the ring will shrink and you can quite easily remove it with a couple of screwdrivers.
GFS do the bearings for £6:50 each or a complete repair kit for £21:00 I have just noticed that the estate bearings have a different part no and are dearer, so that should answer your question. If you are going to replace them I would do both sides.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 31 Jul 2005, 00:31

Sorry, that should have been 'cools'

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 31 Jul 2005, 14:53

1st- havent got a welder so I cant replace the bearings.
2nd- I really wanted to know if I could just take off the rear arm from my Xantia saloon and replace it directly with a rear arm from a Xantia estate?
Paul

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 31 Jul 2005, 15:03

In reply - 1. A welder isn't essential - there's a lip which a piece of pipe will sit on to knock the bearing out. 2. No! you can't - they're not interchangeable.

adzbaby · Post by **adzbaby** » 31 Jul 2005, 15:32

Paul I have a nearside arm from a 1.9TD xantia, car is an m reg had done 88k, bearings were all good when the car was running. Where are you based? £45 is a lot for one arm and especially if you're taking it off yourself! I can have it off and post it, if need be, for less than £45.

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 31 Jul 2005, 16:36

Hi, I live Near Bolton Lancs.
I have also just been onto the scrapyard and he has just said I could have it for £20 now...profit or what?

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 31 Jul 2005, 16:39

Ok, if I go for changing the rear arm bushes, what do I need and what if the arm where the bushes fit is worn?
are the old bushes and bits easy to remove?

Post by **Peter.N.** » 31 Jul 2005, 21:18

Unless its worn badly - nothing. As long there is enough metal to hold the bearing in position, Once its all held together with the bolt nothing is going to move. Fill the tube with grease when you assemble it, then they wont go again.

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 02 Aug 2005, 23:41

Right, bought a suspension arm repair kit from GSF. Had a look at it and it seems fairly straight forward providing the diagram on the box is correct. I will have to phot the bolt and arm/bearings as I remove them . Any other tips??
Starting the job in the morning (I hope) providing it doesnt rain....
Paul

mpr1956 · Post by **mpr1956** » 03 Aug 2005, 02:52

Hi there, I did mine a couple of months ago, no real problems.. but make sure you use ALL the parts in the kit. I found that after I removed (i.e. chiselled and generally mangled) the plastic sleeve from inside the arm, then there was a small lip showing of the bearing carriers which allowed me to tap out the carrier from the opposite end with a screwdriver, working around a bit at a time. It's well worth doing a search on here and reading through peoples experiences..

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 03 Aug 2005, 15:28

Lump hammer and long screwdriver at the ready, first aid kit given to wife, sleeping bag in shed....here goes!!!!!

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 03 Aug 2005, 18:17

Cant get ABS sensor off, it's seized!! WD40 working on it.
Roll bar connected using torx bolts!!! not got any . Halfords here I come

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 03 Aug 2005, 18:54

As you don't need to work on the end with the ABS sensor can't you disconnect it from the car and leave it in the hub unit?
Jeremy