Has anyone fitted any spheres on their Xantia made by AL-KO. As I am still trying to get to the bottom of my harsh ride I was wondering if it was these spheres that I fitted that are at fault. Wondering if they are the wrong ones?
I bought the AL-KO spheres from Euro-carparts. Writing on them is:
AR 2.01
30 Bar
AL-KO 02/02
200.00 0043
Fitted to rear of 1.9TD 1996 Non-activa suspension.
Edited by - Machra on 14 Jan 2003 14:53:45
AL-KO spheres
Moderator: RichardW
You don't mention whether it's a saloon or estate; front or rear.
With Saloon, the chart shows both 1.9 TD & 2 litre 8/16V as:
FRONT. Volume 400cc....pressure 55 bar...bore 1.5
REAR. " " 400cc.... " " 30 bar... " 1.0
Estate, shows the front as above
REAR: Volume......400cc....Pressure...40....Bore not shown (which is strange)
Check on bore size as well as volume & pressure as this can have a big bearing on the performance of the sphere & ultimately the ride.
Hope this is some help.
Alan S
With Saloon, the chart shows both 1.9 TD & 2 litre 8/16V as:
FRONT. Volume 400cc....pressure 55 bar...bore 1.5
REAR. " " 400cc.... " " 30 bar... " 1.0
Estate, shows the front as above
REAR: Volume......400cc....Pressure...40....Bore not shown (which is strange)
Check on bore size as well as volume & pressure as this can have a big bearing on the performance of the sphere & ultimately the ride.
Hope this is some help.
Alan S
According to my infos, rear non-hydractive spheres for 1.9 TD are
up to '96: 400 cm3, 30 bar, bore 1 mm
from '96 on, saloon: 400 cm3, 30 bar, bore 1.2 mm (saloon)
from '96 on, break: 400 cm3, 40 bar, bore 1.25 mm (estate)
Since '96, rear suspension cylinders were also slightly modifyed, with diameter increased from 35 mm to 38 mm (saloon) / 40 mm (estate). Hence the bigger bores on the later spheres, I presume.
Hydractive rear spheres have the same volume and pressure, but smaller bores.
It's a little mystical, this declared bore diameter. A week ago I examined GS spheres, where 1.8 mm for front and 1.1 mm for rear is stated. But, central bores on front spheres were 1.3-1.4 mm and rear 0.8-0.9 mm. Other 8 bores around the central one, covered by steel plate, were around 3 mm front and 4 mm rear. Strange.
Don't know who is the main manufacturer for citroen spheres. Two other are also menioned: I.F.H.S and Tecnosir. In any case, they all should be made according to manufacturer's specification, I think.
Are you shure you didn't fit HA spheres? Did you check subframe mountings, as Dave suggested, and the ride height?
Alex
up to '96: 400 cm3, 30 bar, bore 1 mm
from '96 on, saloon: 400 cm3, 30 bar, bore 1.2 mm (saloon)
from '96 on, break: 400 cm3, 40 bar, bore 1.25 mm (estate)
Since '96, rear suspension cylinders were also slightly modifyed, with diameter increased from 35 mm to 38 mm (saloon) / 40 mm (estate). Hence the bigger bores on the later spheres, I presume.
Hydractive rear spheres have the same volume and pressure, but smaller bores.
It's a little mystical, this declared bore diameter. A week ago I examined GS spheres, where 1.8 mm for front and 1.1 mm for rear is stated. But, central bores on front spheres were 1.3-1.4 mm and rear 0.8-0.9 mm. Other 8 bores around the central one, covered by steel plate, were around 3 mm front and 4 mm rear. Strange.
Don't know who is the main manufacturer for citroen spheres. Two other are also menioned: I.F.H.S and Tecnosir. In any case, they all should be made according to manufacturer's specification, I think.
Are you shure you didn't fit HA spheres? Did you check subframe mountings, as Dave suggested, and the ride height?
Alex
-
Jon
Note re spheres.
Citroen make their own spheres in house. Any sphere not in a Citroen box is therefore "pattern" or recon.
Alko spheres are not, and have never been sold by Andyspares/GSF. The pattern new spheres we sell are Amtex (see below), with 2 year warranty. Testing has revealed burst pressures comparable with Cit originals.
Tecnosir spheres are regassed Cit originals (i.e. Recon)
IFHS spheres are pattern new, made in Belgium.
Amtex spheres are Lizarte, pattern new, made in Spain
Alko spheres are pattern new. Don't know a lot about them.
Any other sphere brand is likely to be recon.
Jon Wood
forum@andyspares.com
Citroen make their own spheres in house. Any sphere not in a Citroen box is therefore "pattern" or recon.
Alko spheres are not, and have never been sold by Andyspares/GSF. The pattern new spheres we sell are Amtex (see below), with 2 year warranty. Testing has revealed burst pressures comparable with Cit originals.
Tecnosir spheres are regassed Cit originals (i.e. Recon)
IFHS spheres are pattern new, made in Belgium.
Amtex spheres are Lizarte, pattern new, made in Spain
Alko spheres are pattern new. Don't know a lot about them.
Any other sphere brand is likely to be recon.
Jon Wood
forum@andyspares.com