Dismantle and clean height correctors?

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 10 Jan 2011, 19:22

I've been wondering, with the age of our Xantias, and in many cases the lack of LHM/Hydroflush throughout most of their lives prior to our ownership, would it be an idea to dismantle and clean the height correctors (not the links but the actual hydraulic units)?

Of those of you who have dismantled HCs, what was the condition inside?

Post by **CitroJim** » 10 Jan 2011, 19:33

Yes, it most certainly would.

I went to see Xantiaman's Activa yesterday and diagnosed very lazy height correctors as the core of his problems.

I've seen the same on my project Activa, Rattiva, that initially had a very slow response to height changes and no response to requests for small changes.

After stripping and cleaning the height corrector valve, which is surprisingly easy, the difference was like night and day.

The nub of the problem is that height correctors are damped so that they are slow to react in order to avoid rapid height changes and oscillations. The damping is achieved by passing LHM via a stack of discs to the opposite end of the valve. The stack of discs slows the flow.

Dirt gathers between the discs and slows the flow even more. Hydraflush seems not able to reach this area very effectively and the only way is to strip the corrector, wash the disc stack and housing in petrol, blow-dry and reassemble.

The difference will be found to be amazing, especially if the height corrector cradle mechanism is given a thorough clean and lube at the same time.

If there's a demand, I'll do a photo sequence to describle the overhaul of a height corrector.

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 10 Jan 2011, 19:36

*demands*

I would imagine on an activa it would also be an idea to do the roll corrector too.

Post by **CitroJim** » 10 Jan 2011, 19:42

Xac wrote: I would imagine on an activa it would also be an idea to do the roll corrector too.

Well, yes as whilst you are having the front corrector off, it's easy to get the roll corrector off as well but actually it's unlikely to be a problem as it is undamped for instant response and therefore doers not have a stack of discs. It is otherwise identical. The most important thing with a roll corrector is to make sure it's quadrant mechanism is very free to move in all planes and directions.

Right, better do a guide then...

XantiaMan · Post by **XantiaMan** » 10 Jan 2011, 19:58

My roll corrector was a bit sluggish as well wasn't it?

Post by **CitroJim** » 10 Jan 2011, 20:02

XantiaMan wrote:My roll corrector was a bit sluggish as well wasn't it?

It seemed pretty much Ok to me Gareth. You may not have seen the wheels moving much but when I was underneath and working it the ram responded instantly. I can also confirm your quadrant is nice and free too

addo · Post by **addo** » 10 Jan 2011, 21:19

I think Shane in Ballarat has a height corrector "strip and clean" page.

robert_e_smart · Post by **robert_e_smart** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:05

I had a Xm here where the front height corrector wasn't responding to any inputs from the height selector. Pulling and pushing the metal socket on the end of the height corrector made it respond very slowly.

A strip, clean and rebuild cured the problem, it was black inside with dirt. Removing and fitting the height corrector is fiddlier and more time consuming than cleaning and rebuilding the height corrector.

sdelasal · Post by **sdelasal** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:08

Are there parts in the height corrector that can break or wear, requiring a replacement unit ... or will a strip & clean cure all known ailments? Steve

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:27

if this link works itr shows a break down of every part for a BX H/C ,

which might still availible adn most of the corector specific parts are identical to all hydraulic citroens except some??? of the D's

it does not give the same detail for a XANT,

http://service.citroen.com/docprdp/affi ... 3003435110&
refaff=1230%2003%20435110

regards malcolm

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:32

unfortunatly seperate parts are no longer available for the height correctors so my dealer tells me, its mainly the rubber boot that can split other than that there is nothing to go wrong, they do hold dirt like mad though, alll the ones ive cleaned have been awefull, but the end result is always faster reaction times.

D

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:36

i agree D

all the H/C's i have ever striped have been full of sludge,

but if you ask for parts for a BX they might still be availible,

i just does not even give the option of a break down for the XANT H/C,

regards malcolm

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:46

im not sure Malcolm, i say this because i recently needed some pressure regulator parts for the activa, no exploded diagram was available so i said look up the xm one, there was an exploded parts drawing for this but still no parts available, even tried the bx PR and although it had the parts listed none were available

I would like to be proved wrong though! cant even get the rebuild kits with the filters for FDV's now either.

D

Stepto1 · Post by **Stepto1** » 11 Jan 2011, 00:04

The LHM fluid that came out of mine was filthy. Bet mine need cleaning. Would love a guide posting. Not even sure where the height correcters are to be honest!

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 11 Jan 2011, 07:57

i know D but all the same its a usefull drawing,

and i do still agree as im the first person to say the H/C very seldon fails, but just need a good clean through,

they are very simple to disect to,

once you find them that is

there is one each end and if you follow the manual hight adjuster rod front to back down the centre of the under side of the car, you will find them,

regards malcolm