Xantia Suspension Heights

[Old-Guy]

There have been quite a number of posts from new Xantia owners asking about suspension heights - sometimes not realising that the flattened tops of the rear wheel arches should hide the tops of the rear tyres.

The proper way to check the suspension heights means getting under the car when it is on ramps and presumes that the suspension is working properly. In real life, the probabilities are that the ride height is correct or would be if the suspension was working properly.

Having done a proper check of the heights on my car (new spheres 3 months ago) - nicely within tolerance - out of interest, I measured the front and rear heights at each height setting to see what the differences are. The following may help other owners as a quick way of checking that the suspension heights at each setting are about right using only a tape measure, pen and paper:

1. Check that the tyre pressures are correct.

2. Park the car on a reasonably smooth, level, flat surface with the hand-brake on, engine idling and the front wheels pointing straight ahead. It's important that there's no side slope.

3. Set the suspension control lever between the front seats to Minimum (fully forward). Let the car settle fully then try bouncing the car at each end; it should feel rock solid. Measure and note the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the front and rear wheel arches.

4. Move the lever back one position to Normal. Wait for the suspension to stop moving; vigorously bounce the front and rear of the car a couple of times. Re-measure and note the wheel arch heights.

5. Move the lever back one more position to Intermediate then proceed as above for Normal.

6. Move the lever fully back to Maximum then proceed as for minimum.

The figures for my 95MY Estate on 185/65 R 15 Michelin Energy tyres were.

...........................Front........Rear
Minimum................593..........535
..difference...............62............50
Normal..................655..........585
..difference...............62............90
Intermediate.........717..........675
..difference...............16............15
Maximum...............733..........690

These figures are only a guide, and you would need to adjust for differences in front and rear rolling radii, measured in the difference between your Minimum figures and mine.

[Peter.N.]

A quick check is to look at the suspension arms, at the rear the should be parrallel with the road (level) and the same with the drive shafts at the front.

[citronut]

it is best to make sure all your hight corector linkages are not partly or fully seized, before altering or making any adjustment to the clamps on your anti roll bars,

as these settings should not alter on there own even over years of not beeing touched

regards malcolm

[jonnydrumm1967]

After hitting a really bad dip on the farm road leading to my house,my xantia is certainly lower than it was at the front at what should be normal running height.It's not at the bottom setting but just a bit up from that.The first time I noticed was when I thought the headlights were out of adjustment! Could it be that the height correcter has moved on the anti roll bar? I know the link rod hasn't come off as A it's cable tied on and B the cars not sitting on the ground at the front,as it did when the link rod did fall off...

The car normally sits dead level.

Thanks, Jon.

[citronut]

maybe you H/C linkage has amost completly sized up, so when you hoit the dip on the road it asumed a lower position and stayed there, since this acurance have you tried bringing the susp right up with the manual lever in the car,

regards malcolm

[jonnydrumm1967]

It will move up and down with the lever in the car but will not assume the correct level,I've had this happen before mind you but this time I've not had it up on a ramp to have a look yet so maybe the wee link has popped off again.

[red_dwarfers]

maybe you H/C linkage has amost completly sized up, so when you hoit the dip on the road it asumed a lower position and stayed there, since this acurance have you tried bringing the susp right up with the manual lever in the car,

regards malcolm

This is exactly what is happening to mine, the back is usually off about 1" (dirty HC, not siezed yet) and the front about 2 or 3" yet its still more comfortable than other cars

Im hoping to get the Xantia up on a mate's lift (yes, he has a car lift at home ) in the next couple of weeks to give them a good clean.

[Exhume.dk]

The following may help other owners as a quick way of checking that the suspension heights at each setting are about right using only a tape measure, pen and paper

Excellent guide

[jonnydrumm1967]

It would appear that the ball-stud that the plastic link arm goes on to is missing off the corrector There's no doubt about it now,it'll have to be removed,stripped and cleaned up However,it looks like it can be repaired. All will become apparent when we get it off the car!

Cheers, Jon.