xantia suspension help needed

keving · Post by **keving** » 13 Apr 2010, 16:49

hi just come across this site and found it very informative must congratulate you lot on something useful on the web.
my problem is a few weeks ago i bought a xantia estate p reg 1.9 td
an to be honest am very surprised at how nippy it is. how ever there are a few things i would like to sort out.
suspension , the front of the car is a lot higher than the rear in normal mode,to the point of the sill of the car not being level with the ground.
in the high mode both front an rear go up higher an in low mode both go right down.
i have topped up lhm , am i right in assuming the dog bone connectors on the height correctors are ok because the car goes up an down when put it in these modes?
would it be some adjustment of them some where wrong or need reseting or is it something i've overlooked?
any help will the Greatly appreciated
thanks kev

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 13 Apr 2010, 22:59

Sounds like a sticking height corrector. Its often the rear which sticks, though yours sounds like the front. Is the front too high or the back too low?

Does it ride softly? I would expect the end at the wrong height to be pretty crashy.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 13 Apr 2010, 23:17

Two or three applications of WD40 on the height corrector linkage over a couple of days should free them off. Look along the anti roll bar and you will see a clamp round it, follow the 'U' shaped rod and you will find the valve on the other end. Dont get under the car unless securly jacked or on a ramp - there heavy

Peter

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 14 Apr 2010, 07:18

Once free, spray them with a liberal coating of grease such as lithium spray grease

keving · Post by **keving** » 14 Apr 2010, 18:58

thanks for this help, i will try that
does the slider between the seats not work the height correctors? because it goes up and down when thats operated.
also when the car has been standing an then started the rear goes up so i'm assuming the rear works ok

Post by **CitroJim** » 14 Apr 2010, 19:19

keving wrote: does the slider between the seats not work the height correctors? because it goes up and down when thats operated.

Yes, the lever does work on the height corrector Kevin, but on a different and independent part of the mechanism.

The part that is operated by the white link from the anti-roll bar can be totally seized whilst the part operated by the lever will still work and behave normally.

This drawing may help make it clearer...

Only one way to test height correctors and that's to use your own weight. Sit on the boot lip and feel the car go down and then correct back to normal height after about 20s. get out, feel it go up high as the weight is relieved and then fall back down to normal height.

Although not quite so dramatic, the front should behave exactly the same if you sit on the slam panel and make the front go down it'll correct itself back up again just like the rear does.

If these tests don't pass, the fault lies in the height corrector mechanisms. The hydraulic part very rarely fails but any stiff ness in the mechanism will really upset the operation of it. Note that very small movements on the hydraulic valve makes a big ride height difference and as a result, the whole assembly is sensitive.

XantiaDaveEire · Post by **XantiaDaveEire** » 15 Apr 2010, 00:00

where abouts is the front height corrector located

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Apr 2010, 05:55

XantiaDaveEire wrote:where abouts is the front height corrector located

They're very shy, retiring creatures Dave.

They live in the middle of the rear part of the front subframe, well beyond the steering rack and well hidden. Follow the rod from the height lever...

You'll only see its mount at first glance. Needless to say they are somewhat of an adventure to remove/replace...

XantiaDaveEire · Post by **XantiaDaveEire** » 15 Apr 2010, 13:29

Cheers Jim