I have a 96 xantia sx never had any problems till now
Hi im new the citroens i'd like to ask a question
The R/H sphere has a high pressure pipe coming from the top of it and it has a leak behind the clip that holds it in place inside the wing can someone please tell me what this pipe is called or tell me if this is the pipe i need to get from GSF
That will be the front suspension strut feed pipe.
This pipe is a common failure, to fit a new pipe you will have to remove the old one from the back of the engine, its a bloody awkward job!!
Best remedy is to depresurise onto stands, remove the pipe from the rear of the strut top, have a look along the pipe and you will find a quadrant shaped clamp holding the pipe to the inner wing. This is where the crack will be, remove the quadrant clamp and bin it, next cut the pipe just back from the crack, slide a male fitting over the end and flare the pipe. Next, make up a new piece of pipe to go from here to the strut top, the join the two using a female coupling (joiner) then clamp the female coupling to the inner wing where the quadrant clamp used to be.
If you aint got a flaring tool then you could possibly borrow one, or get your own, as you will need it eventualy!!!
If GSF don't have the particular pipe genuine Citroen ones from your friendly dealer are usually reasonable - and come ready bent to shape. - and yes they really do fit!
GSF probably sell genuine ready bent ones as well but may not have a full stock.
The only problem in fitting a genuine pipe is that you will be keeping the original problem, ie, the horrible little quadrant clamp, this is the point where they allways crack.
Make your own and you will clear this.
Also by having a flaring tool, a small roll of pipe, a bag of fittings and seals, you will never be caught out waiting for the next stock delivery, as when a pipe goes, you can allways fix it.
My flaring tool is worth it's weight in gold! it cost me about £50, years ago, I thought at the time it sounded expensive, but this little tool has lasted well and got me out of a few holes and made me a few quid too.
Under the circumstances I'd say CDazza76 should have a word with a local Cit Independant garage first and get a pipe made up by them and fit it himself.
The Indy should know the exact length or at worst approximate a length from a nearby reference Xantia and make one up.
You can work on the costs being about 30-40pence per male bolt connector (x2) and a few quid for the cupronickel pipe PLUS the few extra quid to make it worth the guy's time - I'd guess you could be moving again for 10-20 quid dependent on who you deal with.
A local brake and hose specialist in town here who does all vehicle hoses and pipes does offer made up pipes for Citroens and says it's good business for him. He sells double female joints to bridge the male pipe bolts so you can stitch a new pipe into existing pipework although these are about 3-4quid. GSF do sell all these too, though I've never heard of made up pipes being offered unless they're THE MOST COMMON failure pipe for say a BX.
Sure the pipe flaring tool IS worth it's weight when you're underneath a CX estate with pale shaddows of rust where the pipes used to be but on a Xantia this should really only be a one off failure due to fatigue, not a regular repair...
the problem is citroen did not leave enough slack it the original pipe,if you get the new one from citroen i agree it i a s*d of a job to fit,but once its in place it will not go again as the new pipe is modified as it has a lot more free pipe which now goes right around the other side od the sphere top mount,it is not the clamp which causes the fault
regards malcolm
Guess you could try and get some sense out of GSF about EXACTLY what the pipe you mention actually is! It sounds likely to be the one you'll need and for 11quid plus VAT is what I'd imagine the cost would be for the individual intrinsic parts cost.
Bottom line with GSF regarding ACURATE advice is to ring and deal direct with the guys in Reading as they were the original people that specialised in Citroen parts when they were Andyspares [or A and D spares - A series (2CV) and D series (DS)] before taking on Renault and Peugeot parts and then subsequently being merged with the German Swedish operation. Couldn't say whether there'll be anyone left from the old days there mind, it's been a few years.
Incidentally, I've never had to buy new seals as the originals never leak if they're seated properly, and I've re-piped a good many Cx's and Gs's.
i changed this pipe on mine about a year ago it's not that bad to do you just have to take your time to make sure that its not rubbing on anthing once you get it on, i just bought the pipe from the dealers about £15
this forum is really the best 
