Spheres. LHM, Brakes done!! but.....
Moderator: RichardW
Spheres. LHM, Brakes done!! but.....
Right, I changed the spheres, changed the LHM for Hydraflush and (tried to) bled the brakes.
I followed Jim's instructions step by step. However, on taking the car out for a run it doesn't feel right, not sure if this is me or not. I can't explain how it feels other than not right. Also I believe I may have been supplied the wrong size pipe seal. It was a very tight fit compared to the old one and I wonder if it's a 3.5mm. I have fitted it so if this is the smaller one will it cause any problems? There is no leaking as far as I can see.
The brakes were a nightmare. I couldn't get any clear Hydraflush out and when I returned to the reservoir it was low as anything. I ran out of hydraflush so have topped it up with LHM. Thinking I will have to swap it again using just hydraflush.
The brakes now have air in them. They don't work when you press the pedal but do so a second later.
Whats happened!!??
Thanks
I followed Jim's instructions step by step. However, on taking the car out for a run it doesn't feel right, not sure if this is me or not. I can't explain how it feels other than not right. Also I believe I may have been supplied the wrong size pipe seal. It was a very tight fit compared to the old one and I wonder if it's a 3.5mm. I have fitted it so if this is the smaller one will it cause any problems? There is no leaking as far as I can see.
The brakes were a nightmare. I couldn't get any clear Hydraflush out and when I returned to the reservoir it was low as anything. I ran out of hydraflush so have topped it up with LHM. Thinking I will have to swap it again using just hydraflush.
The brakes now have air in them. They don't work when you press the pedal but do so a second later.
Whats happened!!??
Thanks
- CitroJim
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Hi Toby,
You'll not see clear Hydraflush come out as it immediately discolours as it mixes with the residual LHM in the system.
You still have air in the brake lines.
Do lots and lots and lots of Citarobics and then bleed again, keeping the pedal pressed at all times with the engine running and the tube from the nipple dipped in the jar. If you release the pedal with any nipples open there is a risk of air being sucked back in.
The rear brakes need to have a fair amount of LHM bled out of them as the lines are nearly twice as long as the car.
After lots of Citarobics and another bleed, all will be fine!
How does the suspension feel now Toby and how long is the accumulator tick rate?
As long as the 3.5mm seal is not leaking, no worries. They are a tight fit on the pipe in any case, hence the need to lubricate them on with a spot of LHM.
You'll not see clear Hydraflush come out as it immediately discolours as it mixes with the residual LHM in the system.
You still have air in the brake lines.
Do lots and lots and lots of Citarobics and then bleed again, keeping the pedal pressed at all times with the engine running and the tube from the nipple dipped in the jar. If you release the pedal with any nipples open there is a risk of air being sucked back in.
The rear brakes need to have a fair amount of LHM bled out of them as the lines are nearly twice as long as the car.
After lots of Citarobics and another bleed, all will be fine!
How does the suspension feel now Toby and how long is the accumulator tick rate?
As long as the 3.5mm seal is not leaking, no worries. They are a tight fit on the pipe in any case, hence the need to lubricate them on with a spot of LHM.
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
Ok will buy some more hydraflush and do another change then will bleed again. I gave up and didn't do the rears. When they are applied, at the moment there is a delay and when I remove my foot they make all sorts of creaking noises too. Is this just the pads sticking on due to the air?
It feels odd, but not in a good way. I'm not sure how to explain it? The tick rate I believe is better, forgot to test that.
Also, the front moves up in steps rather than smoothly? Have I got sticky struts?
Thanks
It feels odd, but not in a good way. I'm not sure how to explain it? The tick rate I believe is better, forgot to test that.
Also, the front moves up in steps rather than smoothly? Have I got sticky struts?
Thanks
- CitroJim
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Air can make funny noises Toby..
You MUST do the rears. they're the ones that become aireated the worst. Fronts generally get very little air in them but the rears are a different matter. It is critical to bleed those very carefully and thoroughly...
You'll see huge gulps of air come out almost as soon as you open the nipples!
Forgot to say Toby, well done on getting it all done, top work
You MUST do the rears. they're the ones that become aireated the worst. Fronts generally get very little air in them but the rears are a different matter. It is critical to bleed those very carefully and thoroughly...
You'll see huge gulps of air come out almost as soon as you open the nipples!
Forgot to say Toby, well done on getting it all done, top work
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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Thanks Jim, just wondered if the spheres have been put on wrong or something. It just doesn't feel right
Could the front going up in steps be sticky struts?
The rears haven't been touched today but the brakes were working so I have managed to get air in the fronts.
Will a mixture of hydraflush and LHM be a problem or should I really get some more hydraflush and change it again?
Could the front going up in steps be sticky struts?
The rears haven't been touched today but the brakes were working so I have managed to get air in the fronts.
Will a mixture of hydraflush and LHM be a problem or should I really get some more hydraflush and change it again?
- CitroJim
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Yes, the front going up in jerks is sticky struts. easy to sort, on high, pull down the gaiters (no need to remove wheels) and clean the exposed piston rods, apply some grease (Castrol LM is OK) and all will be fine. You can use LHM but it won't last long. They'll also creak like mad as well so there is the answer to two questions
The front struts are the only bit of the hydraulics not lubricated by deliberate LHM leakage, hence they stick and bind after a while.
No worries about mixing LHM and Hydraflush and so long as you've not lost a lot of hydraflush, it'll still be effective.
How dirty were the filters in the LHM reservoir?
The front struts are the only bit of the hydraulics not lubricated by deliberate LHM leakage, hence they stick and bind after a while.
No worries about mixing LHM and Hydraflush and so long as you've not lost a lot of hydraflush, it'll still be effective.
How dirty were the filters in the LHM reservoir?
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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Ok thanks for that Jim
Can you buy hydraflush in containers less than 5l?
They were filthy, nice and clean now
Just been out on a tentative run. I reckon I can use the word 'loose' to describe the feel of the car now. I expected it to be tighter?
Tick rate is longer than 1min, sat listening for a tick for a min and didn't hear one (didn't hang around as my tea was getting cold )
Can you buy hydraflush in containers less than 5l?
They were filthy, nice and clean now
Just been out on a tentative run. I reckon I can use the word 'loose' to describe the feel of the car now. I expected it to be tighter?
Tick rate is longer than 1min, sat listening for a tick for a min and didn't hear one (didn't hang around as my tea was getting cold )
To be honest it wasn't overly hard but you felt the bumps, still do now but it all just feels loose. Could someone perhaps describe how a Xantia should ride and I might be able to compare and explain better.citronut wrote:how hard was the ride before the sphere change, may be the car is ridding how it should now, nice and soft/smooth
and what happend to the rest of the first 5lt can of hydraflush, as i dont usualy get through a full can on one car
regards malcolm
I'm not sure, most of it went in the reservoir. Think the rest went to topping up the reservoir after I realised I'd bled far too much out.
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Hi Toby
have been thinking about your problems and i think i may have been more then partly to blame
When i said to you that you can see the hydraflush because its clearish i didnt say that it makes the LHM a lighter colour. My guess is that you have bleed about 1 - 1.5 litres from the front brakes expecting to see clear fluid and have not had enough fluid to do the rears my apologies and i now owe you at least 2 litres of LHM
As Citrojim says the rears must be bled but i dont think you need to change the fluid again just top up as you do the rear brakes
Intermediate setting giving you grief is probably due to air in the system cant see how you would have done anything to affect the ride hieght
Dont worry about the dates stamped on the spheres they are when they were produced but do check they have given you the correct ones not unknown to be given the wrong ones
Did you have any problems with removing the spheres or was it a walk in the park
Colin
have been thinking about your problems and i think i may have been more then partly to blame
When i said to you that you can see the hydraflush because its clearish i didnt say that it makes the LHM a lighter colour. My guess is that you have bleed about 1 - 1.5 litres from the front brakes expecting to see clear fluid and have not had enough fluid to do the rears my apologies and i now owe you at least 2 litres of LHM
As Citrojim says the rears must be bled but i dont think you need to change the fluid again just top up as you do the rear brakes
Intermediate setting giving you grief is probably due to air in the system cant see how you would have done anything to affect the ride hieght
Dont worry about the dates stamped on the spheres they are when they were produced but do check they have given you the correct ones not unknown to be given the wrong ones
Did you have any problems with removing the spheres or was it a walk in the park
Colin
Not at all Colin. I should have used some common sense
I do need to bleed them all again. Can you buy hydraflush in containers less than 5l? Not keen on the idea of spending £15 on hydraflush when I only need a litre or so.
No the spheres were a doddle with that tool, excellent stuff, cheers for that. The flare nut on the anti-sink took me a bit longer but that was due to the lack of room to swing the spanner round and me being over cautious as I didn't have a flare nut spanner. Accumulator was mega tight though and again, access was poor but all fine really. Changing the fluid was easy too.
To be honest I was surprised at the ease everything went. Just a shame the brakes didn't go so well but its a mistake that I will learn from.
Thanks
I do need to bleed them all again. Can you buy hydraflush in containers less than 5l? Not keen on the idea of spending £15 on hydraflush when I only need a litre or so.
No the spheres were a doddle with that tool, excellent stuff, cheers for that. The flare nut on the anti-sink took me a bit longer but that was due to the lack of room to swing the spanner round and me being over cautious as I didn't have a flare nut spanner. Accumulator was mega tight though and again, access was poor but all fine really. Changing the fluid was easy too.
To be honest I was surprised at the ease everything went. Just a shame the brakes didn't go so well but its a mistake that I will learn from.
Thanks
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Hi Toby, are you sure intermediate isn't working albeit a little too high? The reason I ask is because on normal height, your car looked a little too high - probably could fit my fist between tyre top and arch.
p.s. I might be interested in buying any hydraflush you have left over if you do have to buy another 5L.
p.s. I might be interested in buying any hydraflush you have left over if you do have to buy another 5L.
- CitroJim
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Xantia ride quality is critically dependant on ride height. If not right, it'll not ride right at all...
Check the operation of both your Height Correctors Toby and if that all proves OK, reset your ride height if it is wrong.
Check the operation of both your Height Correctors Toby and if that all proves OK, reset your ride height if it is wrong.
Jim
Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
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