Potential rear sphere trouble

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
XantiaDaveEire
Posts: 560
Joined: 27 Sep 2008, 02:20
Location: Ireland
My Cars:
x 4

Potential rear sphere trouble

Post by XantiaDaveEire »

Potentially what would happen if you turned the sphere too much instead of just cracking it.... :?:

Face full of LHM and a loud bang? :?

I'm always nervous of doing the rears and they're very very very tight :evil:

I just don't want a repeat of what happened the last time,there was still pressure in the sphere and it was like a gun shot of Lhm to the face :cry:

Dave
1998 Xantia 1.9 TD 186k
2008 C4 grand Picasso exclusive 105k #-o
HDI
Posts: 1468
Joined: 22 Sep 2009, 15:46
Location: West Mids
My Cars:
x 7

Post by HDI »

There is a fair amount of thread to unscrew before the sphere is fully disengaged, so you could undo it a few turns without any problem. That should allow any LHM trapped behind a split diaphragm to escape before complete removal.
Now using '00 Xantia LX HDI, pov spec :(
My past Citroens :-
'00 Xantia SX HDI, now dead due to accident :(
'99 Xantia HDI 110 Exclusive, RIP :(
'97 Xantia TD SX
'96 Xantia TD LX
'96 ZX TD
'89 BX TD
'88 AX GT
'79 CX2400 Pallas (scrapped :( )
& a couple of Peugeots !
davetherave
Posts: 880
Joined: 01 Apr 2009, 21:06
Location: Norwich
My Cars:
x 4

Post by davetherave »

The only reasoe there would still be pressure in the sphere after removal is if they are "blown" ie the diaphragm has gone.
I speak from experience on that one....
It shoots a jet of Lhm for quite a while!
(95) XM Silver 2.1td Exclusive.
(87) Cx 2.5 DTR T1 undergoing major cosmetic surgery.
GPZ500s
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 49526
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
Location: Paggers
My Cars: Bluebell the AX, Polly the C3 Picasso, Pix the Nissan Pixo, Propel the duathlon bike, TCR Pro the road bike and Fuji the TT bike...
x 6160
Contact:

Post by CitroJim »

I speak from experience of removing a centre hydractive sphere from a long scrapped rear subframe. It last saw presssure during Victoria's reign..

I unscrewed it, noted it was a bit tight but carried on and suddenly...

BANG!

LHM shot out all over me and the back of my Activa like an explosion...

That sphere when tested was almost flat. 4 bars...

Chris570 will testify :D :D :lol:

A proper douche vert.....

:roll:
Jim

Runner, cyclist, time triallist, duathlete, Citroen AX fan and the CCC Citroenian 'From A to Z' Columnist...
User avatar
DickieG
Monaco's youngest playboy
Posts: 4877
Joined: 25 Nov 2006, 09:15
Location: Buckinghamshire
My Cars:
x 38

Post by DickieG »

Generally speaking once a sphere has been "cracked" and the suspension lowered/depressurised it should undo relatively easily, however if it continues to be very tight and you need to use a tool to undo it beyond one full turn it almost certainly has some residual pressure behind it. If that's the case continue to undo it slowly until LHM starts spraying out, once that stops it will undo by hand. Obviously strategically placing a large bowl will help reduce the mess.

You're not a proper Citroen owner unless you've had a shower of LHM :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
13 Ram 1500 Hemi
14 BMW 535D Tourer
19 BMW i3s
06 C3 Desire 1.4
72 DS 21 EFi Pallas BVH
User avatar
Xaccers
Posts: 7654
Joined: 07 Feb 2007, 23:46
Location: Milling around Milton Keynes
My Cars:
x 184

Post by Xaccers »

Low pressure sphere = little dribble from the socket
Very low pressure sphere = douche vert
Ruptured sphere = dribble from the sphere for ages
1.9TD+ SX Xantia Estate (Cassy) running on 100% veg
1.9TD SX Xantia Hatchback (Jenny) running on 100% veg for sale
Laguna II 2.0dCi Privilege (Monty)

DIY sphere tool
XantiaDaveEire
Posts: 560
Joined: 27 Sep 2008, 02:20
Location: Ireland
My Cars:
x 4

Post by XantiaDaveEire »

Douche vert :lol:

Should the rears last longer than the fronts? :-k
1998 Xantia 1.9 TD 186k
2008 C4 grand Picasso exclusive 105k #-o
Post Reply